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| Transmitted by the deer tick, active Lyme Disease is a contraindication for Lasik. |
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Lyme disease is caused by the
bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. These bacteria are transmitted
to humans by the bite of infected deer ticks and cause more than
16,000 infections in the United States each year. According to the US Centers
for Disease Control, Lyme disease was named in 1977 when arthritis
was observed in a cluster of children in and around Lyme, Connecticut.
Symptoms
Lyme disease most often
presents with a characteristic "bull's-eye" rash, erythematic migraines,
accompanied by nonspecific symptoms such as fever, malaise, fatigue,
headache, muscle aches, and joint aches.
Treatment
Antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually provide full recovery. Antibiotics commonly used for oral treatment include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Patients with certain neurological or cardiac forms of illness may require intravenous treatment with drugs such as ceftriaxone or penicillin.
Complications with Lasik
Although there is very
little information about Lyme Disease and refractive surgery like Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, LASEK, PRK, Epi-Lasik, etc. At least one patient who contracted
Lyme Disease shortly after surgery and had great difficulty with dry eye and keratitis. A study has determined abnormal corneal nerves in patients with Lyme Disease.
Due to the possibility of inflammation of the cornea, accurate measurements of the cornea and refractive error would be impossible. It seems reasonable to
avoid all types of refractive surgery until the Lyme Disease has been successfully
treated
Looking For Best Lasik Surgeon?
If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional
or custom wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, PRK, or any refractive surgery procedure, we recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization.
Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Doctor.
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