Pregnant or nursing women. Those with thin or irregular corneas. People with autoimmune disorders affecting the eyes. Individuals with certain medical conditions such as diabetes or immune disorders.

It is important to know that if you have dry eyes, LASIK surgery may make the condition worse. Large pupils. If your pupils are large, especially in dim light, LASIK may not be appropriate. Surgery may result in debilitating symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts and ghost images.

Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.

While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits can decrease over time. For most patients, the results of this surgery will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.