“Does Lasik reduce eye pressure?”
I am a 27 year old female. I want to know if Lasik reduces eye pressure?
10 Answers
Artificially
LASIK does not reduce the actual pressure in the eyes. However, it does thin the cornea. The tools we use to measure pressure are calibrated for a normal corneal thickness of about 540-550 microns. Because of this thinner corneas will read lower as a lower pressure and thicker corneas will read higher. Experience eye care doctors will know how to adjust for this.
No. LASIK makes the cornea thinner. The standard method for measuring eye pressure by ophthalmologists is a device called the Goldmann applanation tonometer. It measures pressure by bending the cornea inwards against the resistance of the cornea and of the fluid pressure inside the eye. LASIK thins the cornea, which reduces its resistance and so the read out looks like lower pressure. But there is a corrective chart which restores the actual pressure and, when applied, it is found that the actual interior pressure is unchanged.
LASIK has no lasting effect on eye pressure. During the flap-cutting phase of the procedure, your pressure may go up during that phase only. Long-term, your thinner corneas may cause the device used to measure your eye pressures to show a lower number than the actual pressure, but your actual pressure is not changed. This difference from the "real" pressure is usually not more than 2mm Hg. Discuss this with your ophthalmologist if they are worried about your pressure.
No.
Dr. LMJ
Dr. LMJ
The short is no. The long answer is a two-hour lecture.
Best Regards,
David J. Pinhas, M.D.
Best Regards,
David J. Pinhas, M.D.
Typically Lasik does not change the eye pressure.
Alan J. Franklin, MD, PhD
Alan J. Franklin, MD, PhD
Hi, This is a great question. LASIK does not reduce the pressure itself, but it does change our ability to measure it properly. We measure eye pressure by pressing on the cornea, either with a device or a burst of air. LASIK will change the thickness of the cornea, thus affecting the accuracy of the instruments used to measure the pressure. It has become standard of care to measure corneal thickness on any patient where we are concerned about glaucoma (whether or not they had LASIK), so the effect of LASIK on measuring eye pressure is no longer a significant issue.
No. Those are separate issues.
Not the real IOP
