Treatment of Cataracts in Post-LASIK Patients

Jose Alfonso, MD et al. presents an interesting article in this month'sJournal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.  Visual quality after diffractive intraocular lens implantation in eyes with previous myopic laser in situ keratomileusis describes the author's results of implanting a multifocal IOL in 80 eyes of 46 patients who developed cataracts years after undergoing LASIK.  They reported excellent results and concluded that the multifocal IOL provided "good visual acuity at distance and near."

I have been implanting multi-focal IOLs in LASIK patients who develop cataracts for years.  I also find the results to be excellent.  These patients are able to both read and drive without the need for glasses or contact lenses.  I do caution these patients that there is a good chance that their LASIk will need to be fine tuned following the cataract surgery.  I generally will preform a LASIK enhancement 1 month after the cataract surgery, once the refraction is stable.

I have actually preformed LASIK on both my parents 8 years ago.  They both went on to develop cataracts.  I was able to preform cataract surgery and implant a ReStor IOL in my mom last year.  She had a LASIK enhancement 1 month later.  My dad underwent his cataract surgery with ReStor implantation last month,  He does not need an enhancement.

I am please to report that both my parents are able to both read and drive without the need for glasses.  Their vision is now 20/25 at both distance and near.  Needless to say, their friends are jealous, and they are both still talking to me!!