Question
My aunt is 45 years old and has been diagnosed with glaucoma since she entered middle age. Her vision has deteriorated sharply, making it difficult for her to see clearly. Sometimes her eyes keep watering, and when working under bright light, she experiences pain. I recently heard that patients with glaucoma can undergo laser vision correction surgery to be cured. Is this true?
Answer
If a patient is diagnosed with glaucoma, laser vision correction surgery should not be performed. Glaucoma is a chronic pathological change caused by increased intraocular pressure, primarily leading to optic nerve damage. This disease is known as the silent killer of vision, and if not treated promptly, sustained high intraocular pressure can damage the optic nerve, leading to optic nerve atrophy. Once the optic nerve atrophies, vision cannot be reversed. If a person has glaucoma, the first step should be to treat the glaucoma. Only after the glaucoma has completely returned to normal should consideration be given to undergoing laser vision correction surgery.