[Application of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis in glaucoma patients]

Should glaucoma patients receive laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) or not present a challenge to physicians. Corneal thickness and corneal curvature, which are modified during corneal refractive surgery, plays an important role in diagnosis and therapy in glaucoma patients because of its effect on the measured intraocular pressure. On the same time, patients undergo a transient but significant rise in intraocular pressure during the laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis procedure with risk of further optic nerve damage or retinal vein occlusion; steroids typically used after refractive surgery, can increase intraocular pressure in steroid responders, which is more prevalent among glaucoma patients. Glaucoma may not be a contraindication to LASIK, but it is a relative contraindication until its safety is studied more extensively.