By undergoing LASIK surgery, people are able to experience exceptional vision without the aid of glasses and contact lenses. There are a number of factors that can affect your candidacy for LASIK, such as age, stability of your prescription, and the presence of other health conditions. One factor that many people do not consider is the size of their pupils. There has been a lot of research about LASIK and how pupil size may be related to certain side effects following surgery.
When you stop by for a laser eye surgery consultation, we’ll be able to discuss this and other matters in greater detail. For the time being, we’d like to introduce you to the basic concerns regarding pupil size and LASIK surgery.
Does pupil size matter during LASIK surgery?
Yes. A number of studies have shown that patients with large pupils are more likely to experience issues with night vision and glare following LASIK surgery. It’s one of the many issues that can affect LASIK candidacy, which eye doctors must weigh alongside other factors during the consultation process.
Pupil Size and Added Risks During LASIK Surgery
All LASIK patients will note problems with light sensitivity following LASIK, though people with large pupils will often experience these problems with greater severity. This means that halos around lights, starbursts around lights, and other issues with contrast sensitivity at night can be rather serious.
How serious do these night vision issues get?
In the worst case scenario for patients with large pupils, the night vision is so poor that driving at night becomes very difficult or dangerous. As most patients heal, this night vision and light sensitivity will gradually diminish. Those first few weeks or months can be difficult, however, resulting in a disruption of routine.
Should people with large pupils still undergo LASIK?
Even though there is an increased risk for the above side effects, this does not necessarily rule out LASIK for people with large pupils. We should note that the use of wavefront technology when performing LASIK has been able to address these night vision issues to some degree.
Does custom LASIK surgery make that much of a difference?
Because custom LASIK is able to address higher order aberrations such as glare and halos, it has been able to reduce problems with these issues after the surgery when compared to traditional LASIK. Night vision problems and glare issues will still be a problem following custom LASIK for patients with large pupils, though the issue will generally be less pronounced.
Weighing Your Options for Optimal Vision Correction Results
By being aware of these potential side effects, patients are able to make better informed decisions about all of their options. If you are a poor candidate for LASIK or do not feel that LASIK is right for you, we will be more than happy to discuss alternatives to LASIK that may be better suited to your needs.
Schedule a Consultation for LASIK Surgery
For more information about LASIK surgery and the results that can be achieved, be sure to contact our refractive surgery practice today. Our teams in Chicago, Highland Park, and Hoffman Estates are all eager to meet you in person and help you make sound decisions about the overall quality of your vision.
