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Can I Do Lasik? My Cornea Thickness is 490 -488 Micron?

i decide to make lasik on both eyes doctor said everything is good except my cornea thikness was right eye 490 micron - left eye 488 micron can i make lasik or it will be hard the doc. recomened not to wear contact lenses for three months and then i visit him again but can i do lasik with this cornea thickness thanks in advance

Doctor Answers 4

LASIK corneal thickness

October 1st, 2012
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There is not enough information to answer your question. Corneal thickness alone is not sufficient to determine which procedure is best for the patient. The currvature of the cornea and the prescription also play a role. Make sure your doctor is a fellowship trained corneal surgeon who has the capability of performing all kinds of refractive surgery.This way they can recommend the best procedure for you.

Ilan Cohen, MD


New York Ophthalmologist

It is not all about thick and thin

July 6th, 2015
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I echo Dr Cohen reply, current knowledge is insufficient to label with confidence which corneas are weak and which are strong.  Corneal thickness on its own does not mean a lot. Wise surgeon will assess all available knowledge based on history, clinical examination, and corneal assessments/topography and then give you on balance risk factors and success rates
Samer Hamada, MD

Samer Hamada, MD
London Ophthalmologist

LASIK vs PRK with Thin Corneas

October 9th, 2012
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Very likely, your doctor noticed some damage to your cornea from wearing contact lenses chronically and this will also cause thinning of the cornea. So I recommend you also stay out of your contact lenses for a minimum of 3 months and then re-visit the doctor.

 

Your corneas may thicken by as much as 10 microns on each side by giving them a break from contact lenses. Then depending on your prescription you may still be a LASIK candidate, however PRK may still be the safer option to make sure you have enough residual corneal bed left over after the procedure.

 

Both PRK and LASIK will give you the same long-term results.

Michael K. Tracy, MD

Michael K. Tracy, MD
San Diego Ophthalmologist
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 review

Many factors to consider with LASIK

October 1st, 2012
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Cornea thickness is only one of many factors to consider for LASIK surgery.  A 490 micron cornea could have LASIK if everything else is fine.  It may not be able to have LASIK in cases of high myopia, high astigmatism, abnormal corneal topography, flat keratometry readings, excessive dryness, active infection, retinal or lenticular irregularities, etc.

 

It never hurts to get more than one opinion on your choice to have an elective form of surgery.  Make certain you ask the surgeon questions and understand the answers so you can make a properly informed decision.

Jay Bansal, MD

Jay Bansal, MD
San Francisco Ophthalmologist
5.0 out of 5 stars 2 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.