Elevated intraocular pressures maybe an artefact of the testing method (air-puff versus contact methods including the Goldmann applanation tonometer, or digital tonometer).
It is important to ascertain whether your eye pressures are truly high on applanation, as non-contact air-puff tonometers are notorious for giving falsely elevated readings.
Secondly, in the context of elevated IOP, you also need to know the corneal thickness as this will determine whether the reading is elevated due to a thicker cornea. This would imply that the real eye pressure is lower than is recorded.
Thirdly, a comprehensive evaluation of your optic disc is required to determine whether any structural or functional damage to the nerve has occurred (glaucoma evaluation).
It is important to consider all these parameters before deciding on whether to proceed with your refractive surgery.
Significantly elevated eye pressures will also affect the refractive result of LASIK surgery, as it will cause the cornea to bow forward and induce myopia in the post-surgery eye.
You should consult your attending ophthalmologist for specific advice as to how this question relates to you, as high pressures alone (if this is a true reading) may not be a disqualifying factor for refractive surgery.
Best of luck in your refractive surgery journey!
E-Shawn Goh
