Am I a Candidate for LASIK?

LASIK is a surgical procedure popular for correcting poor vision. Thanks to it, millions of people have received a clear vision since 1999. Before you get the surgery, you need to schedule a consultation to know if you qualify. The following are signs to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK.

An Adult Over 18

To qualify for LASIK surgery, you need to be over 18 years old. As children develop, their eyesight may continue to change. During puberty, hormonal changes can affect the eyes and vision.

Getting LASIK before the eyes stabilize may be futile as the eyes can continue to change after the procedure. Younger patients may receive treatment at the discretion of the surgeon and with the parent’s consent. There is generally no upper limit age for LASIK.

You Must Have Healthy Eyes

To qualify for LASIK, you must have eyes in healthy condition. If you have an eye health issue, you need treatment before the surgery. Eye issues such as conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, eye infections, and eye injuries can affect how the eyes respond to LASIK.

Cataracts and uncontrolled glaucoma can affect your ability to get LASIK. An eye doctor will examine your eyes to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.

A Stable Vision Prescription

Your eyeglass or contact lens prescription may continue to change even after 18. Nearsightedness can continue to get worse, and you can experience other changes in your sight. To get LASIK, you must have a stable prescription for one or two years. It will help ensure that the procedure is effective. An eye doctor will inform you when your prescription becomes stable.

Adequate Cornea Thickness

Having adequate cornea thickness is essential for effective surgery. People with corneas that are misshapen or too thin may not be good candidates for laser eye surgery. The procedure can lead to impaired vision.

Recent advances in laser surgery have made it possible for people with thin corneas to benefit from laser vision correction. A femtosecond laser can allow the surgeon to create a thinner corneal flap, preserving more corneal tissue.

Good Overall Health

To be a good candidate for LASIK, you should have good overall health. If you have diabetes or uncontrolled autoimmune diseases, you may not be a candidate for the procedure. If your body has difficulty healing, you have a high risk of experiencing poor LASIK outcomes.

Some medications can interfere with the healing process. The eye doctor will ask about any existing medical conditions before determining whether you should get the surgery.

Prescription Limits

To qualify for LASIK, you must have a prescription within certain limits. LASIK is ideal for myopic patients, but it can help correct farsightedness and astigmatism. It can correct refractive errors to a certain limit. When a patient’s prescription is strong, the eye doctor may recommend alternative treatments. Results of surgery are unpredictable for patients with a severe refractive error or high myopia levels.

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK is to consult an eye doctor. An eye examination will help determine the condition of your eyes. If your pupils are too large, there is an increased risk of complications after surgery. If you are pregnant, you may need to postpone the procedure.

For LASIK co-management and to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK, call Lakhani Vision Care at 770.509.993 to reach our office in Marietta, Georgia.