7 Ways to Know if You’re a Good LASIK Candidate

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) eye surgery is a widely popular and effective procedure to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. However, not everyone is a suitable candidate for LASIK eye surgery, and you need to consider several important factors before undergoing this treatment.

In this article, we’ll discuss seven ways to know if you are a good LASIK candidate, so you can decide whether this procedure is right for you. 

Can I get LASIK eye surgery?

You can consider yourself a good LASIK candidate if the following applies to you: 

1. Your eyes are relatively healthy 

Certain eye conditions may render you a poor candidate for LASIK eye surgery. For example, conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts can make the procedure more difficult to perform and, as a result, potentially higher risk for complications. 

Moreover, suppose you suffer from severe or persistent dry eyes. In that case, LASIK eye surgery may only exasperate this condition if not successfully treated beforehand. It can result in intensified eye burning or stinging symptoms, blurriness, or gritty sensations. 

Fortunately, other vision correction surgeries, such as PRK, can be a safer alternative if your doctor deems LASIK unsuitable for your eyes.

 2. You are in good general health

 It is also essential for LASIK patients to be in good general health, as having certain medical conditions may deem a person less suitable for this surgery. 

This situation is especially true with certain uncontrolled degenerative conditions or autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and HIV AIDS.

However, patients with good immune cell counts may be an exception. 

If your body generally has issues with healing and/or taking certain medications that interfere with post-operative recovery, you will be at a greater risk of LASIK eye surgery producing unsatisfactory results. 

3. You have stable vision 

Suppose a LASIK eye surgery is performed on an eye with unstable vision or an unstable prescription. In that case, there is a high risk that the eye’s refractive error will continue to change following surgery. 

For this reason, all patients must have a stable prescription for at least a year (depending on your surgeon’s recommendation) before their scheduled LASIK surgery.

 4. Your prescription is not too high

Whether you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, if your prescription is too high, it may not be advisable to go through with a LASIK eye surgery. 

The good news is that alternative vision correction surgery options may be a better option for patients with prescriptions beyond the recommended limits. 

5. Your cornea contains adequate thickness

Since visual acuity improves through the reshaping of the cornea during corrective surgical procedures like LASIK, performing this surgery on a cornea that is either too thin and/or has an unconventional surface shape may put you at higher risk for complications and may even have an adverse effect on your vision. 

The good news is, if you’ve previously been informed that you were a poor candidate for LASIK eye surgery due to your corneas being too thin, there have been more recent advances that enable such patients to undergo laser vision correction using nontraditional techniques. 

This treatment includes LASIK procedures that use a femtosecond laser during surgery to allow for the creation of a more precise and conservative corneal flap, among other alternative refractive surgery solutions. 

6. You are the minimum age requirement

Patients must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for a LASIK eye surgical procedure

When it comes to the upper age limit for LASIK eye surgery, there generally is none. However, it is essential to understand that once a person reaches 40 years of age, it becomes increasingly common to require reading glasses to correct near eyesight due to the normal nature of ageing eyes (a condition also referred to as presbyopia).

 7. You understand the procedure 

While LASIK procedures have a considerably high success rate when performed by experienced surgeons, it is still essential to be completely aware of the potential side effects, risks, and complications of this surgical procedure. 

You should have a comprehensive discussion with your surgeon and disclose all necessary information regarding your medical history and eye health before the procedure to help determine with certainty whether you are a good candidate for LASIK in the first place, which will play a role in ensuring a safe and successful procedure with minimal risk.

Contact Clearview Vision Institute Today

The best way to know whether you’re a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery is to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable surgeon. 

Our team of experts at Clearview Vision Institute would be pleased to meet with you regarding LASIK eye surgery when you’re ready to take that step. To book an appointment, call Clearview Vision Institute at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.