If you are tired of relying on prescription glasses or contact lenses to see clearly, LASIK eye surgery might be right for you! LASIK surgery is a relatively simple procedure with a short recovery time and a high satisfaction rate.
LASIK surgery is not an option for everyone. Several factors can affect your ability to have successful LASIK treatment.
Keep reading to learn some criteria that may qualify you as a good LASIK candidate!
You Are at Least Eighteen Years of Age
The FDA has approved LASIK in people who are over the age of eighteen. Before then, your eyesight may still be changing as you age.
During puberty, your body undergoes hormonal changes that affect your eyes and vision. If you have LASIK surgery before your eyes have stabilized, any changes to your vision as they continue to develop may negate the vision-improving effects of the LASIK procedure.
You Have a Stable Vision Prescription
To ensure the best results from LASIK surgery, you must have had a stable vision prescription for at least one year. Even if you are older than eighteen, your eyes may still change, and your prescription may vary from one yearly eye exam to the next.
A stable prescription ahead of LASIK surgery will result in a better outcome from the surgery.
You Have Untreated Dry Eye
It’s best to treat and manage dry eye syndrome prior to undergoing LASIK surgery. The procedure can lead to complications post-surgery if you have untreated dry eye syndrome.
Individuals with dry eye syndrome may also experience longer recovery times after surgery. If you have dry eye syndrome, your eye doctor will likely recommend getting the condition under control before scheduling the procedure.
You Are in Good Overall Health
Chronic health conditions can affect your ability to safely have LASIK surgery, including diabetes and certain auto-immune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma make LASIK surgery challenging to perform and carry high risks.
Other Factors to Consider
The thickness of your cornea can affect your ability to have LASIK surgery. Corneas that are not thick enough can make it unsafe for an eye surgeon to create the corneal flap necessary for LASIK surgery.
At Shepherd Eye Center, our knowledgeable eye care providers can perform simple tests to check the thickness of your cornea. For women, you should not have LASIK surgery if you are pregnant or nursing, as hormonal changes can temporarily alter your vision, affecting the outcome of LASIK surgery.
When considering LASIK surgery, these criteria can help you determine whether you are a good candidate. However, a comprehensive eye examination and LASIK consultation with one of our experienced and knowledgeable eye care providers is the best way to know for sure whether LASIK is right for you!
Are you interested in determining if LASIK is right for you? Schedule an appointment at Shepherd Eye Center in Las Vegas, NV, today!
