In order to be a good candidate for LASIK, you need to meet a specific patient criterion to assess whether this procedure is right for you. Although most patient are candidate for Laser Vision Correction and shedding their spectacles and contact lenses, not every patient qualifies to have their vision corrected. Here is a guideline to determine whether you are the right candidate for this procedure.
Healthy Eyes
If you suffer from infections, eye injury, dry eye syndrome, or conjunctivitis that can affect how your eyes respond to LASIK and heal after the procedure, you will want to wait until your condition is resolved. Consistent dry eyes can prevent you from qualifying for LASIK because you will not produce enough tears to help your eyes stay healthy and lubricated.
If you are unsure of any problems, your optometrist will determine if you have dry eyes during the preoperative examination. They can advise you on how to move forward and suggest ways to treat this condition. Other problems like cataracts and glaucoma can also interfere with your vision and will prevent you from being the ideal candidate for LASIK.
Sufficiently Thick Cornea
LASIK is a standard refractive procedure that improves your visual acuity by reshaping the surface of your cornea. If your cornea is very thin or has a misshapen or irregular surface, you will not be a good candidate. However, recent advances have made more people acceptable candidates for laser correction even if they have been told in the past that their cornea was not thick enough. For instance, you have the option of experiencing a femtosecond laser or that helps your doctor create a thinner corneal flap, which preserves most of your underlying corneal tissue for the treatment to be successful.
Limited Prescription
Your eye surgeon can advise against LASIK if your prescription is too high or too low. This is because the LASIK outcomes are highly unpredictable for high refractive errors. You may also experience vision complications if you have high amounts of myopia that involve removing excess corneal tissue, which can be unsafe.
Age Criteria
Patients should not be younger than 18 years old. There are no upper age limits for laser eye surgeries, but it is essential to note that patients over 38, should treat for monovision, so their need for glasses remain at a minimum.
Stable Vision
Refractive errors should be stable before undergoing LASIK. For instance, near-sightedness can worsen over time, and this would reduce your chances of a successful outcome post-surgery. Younger candidates are often not the best candidates until their eyes have settled.
Maintain Good Health
Health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, and type 1 diabetes can prevent you from qualifying for LASIK. This is because your body already has trouble healing, and you can have an unsatisfactory outcome after laser eye treatment.
Certain medications can also lower your chances of being a good candidate because some immunosuppressants can interfere with the healing process after the operation or cause severe dry eyes. Pregnant women should also delay the procedure because hormonal imbalances can alter corneal shape, leading to changes in vision.
Keep in mind that these conditions for LASIK are a general guide, and your eye doctor can provide the most accurate information to check if you qualify for the operation and will have a successful outcome. To determine whether LASIK is the best treatment for you, take out online consultation at: https://havelasik.com/patient-info/online-consultation/.
