Do you qualify for Lasik eye surgery?

LASIK can treat moderate to severe astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Is LASIK right for you? If you do not meet the criteria, then your LASIK procedure will be unsuccessful. LASIK is determined on an individual level based on prescriptions, medical histories, and other factors.

LASIK is almost always a successful procedure. If you are interested in LASIK eye surgery and have any questions, the following factors can help you determine if you are a candidate:

Healthy Eyes

Your eye conditions can affect the healing and effectiveness of your LASIK procedure. For example, you may be dealing with eye infections or injuries, conjunctivitis, (pink-eye), and dry-eye syndrome. You should wait until the eye health conditions are resolved before considering surgery.

LASIK can exacerbate persistent dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is characterized by gritty sensations, blurry vision, decreased tolerance to wind, burning or stinging, and, in some cases excessive tears. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms before surgery.

Usually, your doctor will diagnose the condition at the consultation. Dry eye can be treated successfully before you proceed with surgery.

Corneas with sufficient thickness

Refractive surgery usually improves visual acuity through a slight alteration of the cornea. If your cornea has a very irregular and misshaped surface, or is extremely thin (as is the case with keratoconus), then laser surgery will not be effective and may affect your vision.

If you were told in the past that your corneas are too thin to undergo LASIK, recent advances in laser eye surgery may make you a candidate.

Size of Pupils

If your pupils are large, they can also affect the success of LASIK. You may be more susceptible to side effects such as halos, starbursts, and glares when it is dark.

What is the extent of your prescription?

Your surgeon may advise you to avoid LASIK if your prescription reaches certain limits. This could be due to astigmatism or farsightedness. This is because LASIK procedures for high refractive error tend to be unpredictable. Potential risks can often outweigh potential benefits.

As myopia increases, corneal tissue may be removed in large quantities, increasing your risk of vision problems.

Age

In some cases, you must be 18 years of age or older to receive LASIK. The surgeon can only treat younger patients with their permission and discretion.

Anyone who is over the age limit for laser surgery can usually be considered a candidate. Once you reach your 40s, however, the chances of you being a candidate for laser surgery increase. As you age, presbyopia and other normal issues may require that you wear reading glasses.

Stable Vision

It is common for teenagers and young adults to need their contact lenses and eyeglasses prescriptions changed annually until their vision stabilises. You must meet certain criteria to be considered a candidate for LASIK. You should not have experienced any changes in your refractive error for at least one year.

Healthy Overall Wellness

Laser eye surgery may not be possible if you have certain uncontrolled autoimmune and degenerative diseases. These include rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome, AIDS and type 2 diabetic. If your body’s healing ability is compromised, the LASIK outcome will be less than satisfactory.

If you are pregnant or nursing, delay your surgery.

Hormonal changes can cause a temporary change in your vision. After delivery, your hormones should return to normal. Some medications, such as steroids and antibiotics that promote healing following surgery, can negatively impact your baby.

Realistic Expectations

Before you choose LASIK surgery, you should be aware of all the possible side effects, risks, and complications. You can consult a LASIK specialist to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK.

It is important to provide all the relevant information about your health and medical history to your surgeon. This will help you achieve the best possible results.