Can high eye power hinder LASIK and PRK procedures?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am having -9 spherical and -2 and -1.5 cylindrical power in my eyes. I have a border line eye pressure. Doctor said I cannot take laser or ICL surgery but can have ReLex Smile for that power. But it also needs some cornea tissues which is a risk factor for glaucoma. I do not know what to do now? Which treatment is better for me and the doctor just gave normal lubricant drops? Is there any treatment for me for refractive surgery by controlling eye pressure?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

How much is your eye pressure? Did the doctor measure it with an instrument that puffs out air at you or was it a blue light instrument that he used to touch your eye with? From what you have told me, I understand that you are interested in refractive surgery. But the doctor refused to operate on you saying your pressures are high and that your power is too high for lasik. It is true that your power is on the higher end of the patients we usually consider for surgery so doing lasik and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is not possible on the eye with -9D but can be done on the eye with -2 and -1.5D. Putting an ICL (implantable contact lens) in your eye might increase your eye pressure. So I will not recommend that. ReLex SMILE can be tried in both your eyes if the surgeon is confident. I am guessing that he would have asked you to come for a follow up to re-check pressures. If the pressures were too high, he would have asked for visual fields and a few other tests for glaucoma. In either case, it all depends on the surgeon's experience and your eye pressures. If you can tell me about your eye pressure and your vision in each eye with -9D and -2/-1.5D, I could help you better.