Laser eye surgery after cross‑linking is a specialist decision and is usually reserved for very carefully selected cases with stable corneas.
When it may be considered
The priority is to ensure the cornea has stopped changing after cross‑linking and retains adequate thickness.
- Documented stability of corneal scans over a prolonged period
- Thickness and tomography profiles within agreed safety margins
- Mild residual irregularity or short‑sightedness that laser could improve
- Preference for topography‑guided surface treatments rather than flap‑based LASIK
- Clear explanation that goals are visual improvement, not perfection
When cross‑linked corneas are best left alone
In many people, contact lenses remain the safer and more predictable option.
- Ongoing change in corneal shape after cross‑linking
- Marked thinning or scarring in the cone area
- Need for rigid, scleral, or hybrid lenses to achieve best vision
- Risk that laser could destabilise a previously strengthened cornea
- Plan focused on lenses and monitoring rather than more surgery
