Study: Weather Affects LASIK Procedures

July 14, 2006

If you're considering LASIK eye surgery to replace those glasses or contacts, keep in mind that the weather might affect the success of your procedure.

According to a new study, temperature and humidity pay a role in the outcome of LASIK surgeries causing patients to return for touch-ups or fine-tuning of the vision correction.

Researchers found that indoor humidity and outdoor temperature and humidity two weeks prior to the surgery significantly affect LASIK results requiring 15 and a half percent of patients to undergo a second procedure.

The study also found that a 10 percent rise in LASIK treatment room humidity caused nine out of every 100 patients to receive an enhancement procedure.

"The higher the humidity, the less the effect for the same amount of laser treatment. The drier the cornea, the laser will have more effect," said Dr. Joseph Dello Russo, a LASIK surgeon.

According to Russo, more moisture in the air reduces the laser energy absorbed by the cornea. In addition, some patients' corneas may increase in hydration before the surgery making it harder for the laser to remove the tissue.

"We've learned that if you keep it at 40-50 percent relative humidity, and 68 to 73 degrees temperature, the atmosphere doesn't affect the result," he said.

For more information on LASIK and other vision correction procedures, please contact LASIK Main by selecting a state below for a consultation.