People with lupus are not usually good candidates for LASIK, an elective procedure to improve visual acuity. This is because the condition can cause dry eyes, which can disrupt the healing process and cause discomfort. Additionally, some medications used to treat lupus can also affect the healing process. However, advances in LASIK technology have made it possible for certain people with lupus to undergo the procedure and achieve good results.
The FDA and the AAO consider connective tissue disease (CVD) to be a contraindication to LASIK surgery due to concerns that comorbid eye conditions may cause poor refractive outcomes and major postoperative complications. However, a study of 15,000 graphs found that LASIK, especially in younger patients with an inactive or well-controlled autoimmune connective tissue disease, is a reasonable option that seems safe. The literature includes a total of 24 eyes from patients with documented spondyloarthritis (SpA) who underwent LASIK surgery. Approximately 25% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have comorbid secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), making keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) the most common eye condition in patients with lupus.
We suggest that patients with well-controlled SLE and without evidence of ocular complications or comorbid SS are suitable candidates for LASIK if they can meet the strict preoperative selection criteria. In general, people with an impaired immune system are at greater risk when undergoing any surgical procedure than those with a healthy immune system. Therefore, we recommend that more research is needed on this topic to clarify precisely which patients are safe candidates for LASIK surgery.
