Better Eyes in Old Age

By Andrea Hughes, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Laser eye surgery isn't just for the young. A new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago shows there are still substantial benefits of laser eye surgery, or LASIK, for older patients. There were known benefits to having LASIK at a young age because of the cornea's strong healing responses, but now researchers have found small adjustments in the correction to the cornea compensate for differences in age-related healing for older patients.

The researchers observed case histories of 424 laser eye surgery patients between the ages of 40 and 69. The surgeries were performed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Researchers divided the cases into three groups based on age, a group for 40 to 49 year olds, 50 to 59 year olds and 60 to 63 year olds. The researchers found no difference in the safety of the surgeries between the groups, and all the groups reported 20/40 vision or better without their glasses.

Researchers conclude despite older patients being more likely to need retreatment, they aren't at a greater risk for visual loss after LASIK. Although there are not greater risks directly related to age and LASIK surgery, there are greater risks associated with eye conditions most commonly found in older patients. Jose de la Cruz Napoli, M.D., a researcher on the study, told Ivanhoe, "Age is not a factor, but there are other factors that could affect vision, such as cataracts, dry eye, macular degeneration and glaucoma."

Dr. de la Cruz Napoli also stresses the importance of knowing all the risks, for any age group, and also knowing your motivation for getting corrective surgery. De la Cruz Napoli told Ivanhoe that if older patients are going in for LASIK, "They will probably have to require reading glasses even though their vision is corrected for far." As with any surgery, it is important to weigh both the risks and benefits.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Ivanhoe Interview with Jose de la Cruz Napoli, M.D.; Ophthalmology, published online April 18, 2007