Lasik, Astigmatism, and NF-1 (Lisch Nodules)

[padreandrew]

Hello, I am a 52 year old male with severe astigmatism.  I wear toric contac lenses in my left and right eyes.  I have good vision in my right eye and very bad vision in my left eye.  When corrected my right eye is 20/20 but my left eye is around 20/2000 or something like that.  I also have Neurofibromatosis Type 1 with the related Lisch Nodules in both eyes.  When I was a child, I used to get free eye exams at my local eye doctor in Washington, DC because he would let the medical students (opthamology) come in and try and diagnose what I had since they didn't see too many people with Lisch Nodules.  My Optometrist tells me that I probably am NOT a good candidate for Lasik because if something happened to my right eye, my vision would be severely hampered.  Is this because of the neurofibromatosis and the Lisch Nodules?  Are people with NF-1 and Lisch Nodules generally not good candidates for Lasik or is the astigmatism that is the problem?

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

It has nothing to do with NF-1 or the Lisch Nodules.  The doctor is simply looking out for your best interests because you only have one good eye.  It is as simple as that.

MJK MD