In case of keratoconus, does the vision improve after getting Lasik?

Keratoconus (or even signs suggestive of keratoconus) are a contradication to having LASIK.

Keratoconus patients are often highly myopic (nearsighted) and usually have significant astigmatism. So it is easy to understand why such people are very motivated to have some sort of vision-correcting surgery done.

The high myopia in keratoconus is often associated with (or even caused by) poor structural integrity of the cornea (which is the primary "lens" of the eye). Keratoconus corneas are usually more thin than normal corneas anyway and often are irregularly shaped.

LASIK works by removing corneal tissue which leaves it permanently thinner. So now it should be easier to understand how thinning and weakening the cornea with LASIK may destabilize the cornea more than would happen in a myopic patient with normal corneas. It could even worsen the keratoconus to the degree of needing a corneal transplant.

There are other, non-corneal refractive procedures that can treat even high myopia. All surgery has the possibility of risks, but these (ICLs for example) do not worsen keratoconus.

J. Trevor Woodhams, M.D, - Chief of Surgery, Woodhams Eye Clinic