Laser eye surgery isn't for everyone. Here are six guidelines to help you decide if LASIK is right for you:
- Are
your eyes healthy? If you have
any condition that can affect how your eyes respond to surgery or heal
afterwards, wait until that condition is resolved. Examples include
chronic dry eyes, conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) and any eye injury. Some
conditions, such as cataracts, keratoconus and uncontrolled glaucoma, may
disqualify you completely.
- Are
you an adult? You need to be at
least 18 years of age to have LASIK. (Younger patients can sometimes be treated
as an exception. Discuss this with your surgeon.)
- Is
your vision stable? Many teenagers
and young adults experience changes in their prescription for eyeglasses
or contact lenses from year-to-year, especially if they are nearsighted.
Make sure your prescription is stable for a 12-month period before having
LASIK. If it’s not and you proceed anyway, you may need another surgery
next year!
- Are you pregnant?Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause swelling in your corneas, changing your vision. Dry eyes are also common when you’re pregnant. Also, eye medications (antibiotics and steroids) used during and after LASIK may be risky for your baby, whether unborn or nursing. Wait a few months after your baby is born before having LASIK.
-
Certain systemic and autoimmune
diseases may be disqualifiers,
too. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, HIV and AIDS.
Basically, if your body has any trouble with healing, your corneas may not
heal properly after LASIK. Opinions vary among surgeons as to which
diseases are automatic disqualifiers and which ones might pose acceptable
risks in certain cases.
- Your prescription must be within certain limits. For example, very high amounts of myopia, which would require removal of too much corneal tissue, may preclude LASIK or make another type of refractive surgery a better option. For example, many surgeons feel a phakic IOL procedure provides a better visual outcome and poses less risk than LASIK for nearsighted prescriptions higher than -9.00 diopters.
To find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK, visit our office for a comprehensive eye exam and refractive surgery consultation.
For more information on LASIK surgery, visit All About Vision®.
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