Lasik eye surgery candidate

Good candidate for refractive or laser eye

LASIK is typically considered an elective surgery. People choose to have this procedure based on their health and personal preference. It might seem like anyone who wants to have the procedure would be able to have it done, but in reality, some people just aren't right for this type of surgery. 

Condidates include:

• At least 18 years of age
• Stable eyeglass and contact lense prescription for at least 2 to 3 years
• Stable vision over at least the past year
• No history or findings of active corneal disease
• No significant medical or eye problems, such as previous corneal ulcers, keratoconus (a progressive thinning of the cornea), diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, or glaucoma
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Eyeglass prescription within certain limits set by your eye surgeon

there are some factors that could potentially affect your eligibility, including:

• YOUR EYE'S HEALTH
  Certain eye conditions may be limiting, such as severe dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis (commonly known as pink eye) or other types of eye infection.
• YOUR CORNEAL THICKNESS
  If your corneas are too thin, then this physiological trait may impact your potential to get a laser vision correction procedure. And while you can’t see just how thick or thin your corneas are just by looking at them, one of our eye care professionals will take accurate measurements at your consultation. In the event that this is your situation, we do offer other treatment options to help correct your eyesight that are not conventional LASIK.
• PREGNANCY
  Pregnant women are not eligible for surgery. Please advise us if you are pregnant—or are planning on becoming pregnant—at your pre-operative consultation. At this appointment, your eye care professional will determine what is an appropriate timeframe for you to safely undergo the procedure. Nursing moms, on the other hand, may be candidates, but should speak to their doctors beforehand to rule out any risk.
• PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
  If you have certain pre-existing conditions, like rheumatological conditions (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), then you are unfortunately not permitted to undergo this procedure.

The following laser eye surgery checklist is a good start to help you determine if LASIK or PRK is right for you.

1.Your eyes must be healthy

2. Your cornea must have sufficient thickness

3. Your pupils must not be too large

4. Your prescription must be within certain limits

5. You must be old enough

6. Your vision must be stable

7. You must be in good health

8. If you are pregnant, you should delay surgery

9. You must have realistic expectations

Measuring Vision Loss to Determine Eligibility

LASIK surgery is performed to improve your vision, so you will not need to wear contacts and glasses to handle everyday activities. If you are considering LASIK, you probably wear contacts or glasses now. You may want to eliminate those lenses from your life altogether, and you might think surgery is the best solution.

The final decision

When it comes to LASIK eye surgery, there are no right answers. Carefully consider the factors outlined here, weigh your preferences and risk tolerance, and make sure you have realistic expectations. Talk to an eye surgeon in whom you feel confident and get your questions answered. In the end, if it feels right, then proceed, but if it doesn't, don't rush into anything.