Who is a Good Candidate for LASIK? Submitted by Atlanta Vision Cataract and Laser Center on March 28, 2018
Who is a Good Candidate for LASIK?
LASIK is a revolutionary laser surgery to help you achieve better vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. The continual advancements in technology have made it possible for those who weren’t good candidates for LASIK previously to now benefit from the laser treatment.
What is LASIK?
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is an eye surgery to correct common vision issues, including astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness, caused by the shape of your cornea. LASIK laser surgery reshapes your cornea to improve your vision and reduces your dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses.
The surgery only takes a few minutes per eye. Your surgeon creates a thin flap in the outer layer of your cornea. Using the laser technology, the surgeon removes cells in the underlying layer to reshape the cornea. The protective flap is repositioned into place and the surgery is finished.
Am I a good candidate for LASIK?
There are certain requirements that determine if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. When you come in to Atlanta Vision Cataract & Laser Center, one of our surgeons conducts a thorough eye exam to determine whether LASIK laser surgery is right for you.
The general requirements you must meet include:
Healthy eyes
You can’t have any abnormalities in your cornea or other parts of your eye. Your eyes must be healthy and without scarring or infections and measure at a normal pressure. People with dry eye, large pupils, thin corneas, or corneal abnormalities may not be good candidates.
Good focusing ability
During the procedure, you must be able to keep your eyes trained on a fixed point of light for up to two minutes. This ensures the surgeon can accurately use the laser technology to correct your cornea for optimal results.
Willingness to stop wearing contacts temporarily
Prior to your LASIK consultation, you can’t wear contact lenses. The lenses change the shape of your cornea and can influence the outcome of your LASIK evaluation. You may need to wear only glasses for up to four weeks before your consultation.
Ability to lie flat
If you have any medical conditions that make it impossible to lie flat, such as back problems, you may not be able to undergo LASIK surgery. While the procedure takes only a few minutes, you’ll need to lie flat on the medical table during preparation and surgery.
Be age 18 or over
To qualify for LASIK surgery, you need to be at least 18 years old. This is due to the fact that eyes still change in early adulthood. You may even need to wait until you’re over 21 before having LASIK so that your eyes are more stable.
Have reasonable expectations
Many people enjoy improved vision following a LASIK procedure. However, it’s important to have reasonable expectations for how much your vision will improve. Your surgeon discusses what outcome you can expect before you have the surgery.
In general, people with higher prescriptions may see immediate improvement in their vision, whereas those with lesser prescriptions may not see optimal result until several weeks after the procedure.
Understand the risks
While LASIK has been proven to be a safe and effective procedure with minimal complications, there is always risk with any surgical procedure. Complications, like infections, are rare but can still occur. You’ll need to use prescription antibiotic eye drops following surgery for about a week to prevent infections as your eyes begin to heal.
There is also a small risk that your vision will be worse following LASIK, a rare occurrence, but one you should be aware of.
If you’ve been considering LASIK surgery and want to ditch your glasses and contacts for good, schedule a consultation with the experienced LASIK surgeons at Atlanta Vision Cataract & Laser Center to find out if the procedure is right for you.
Answer a few questions in our free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to find out how much you can save on LASIK. Call us today for a free consultation.