Who Is the Best Candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery?

As a provider of LASIK eye surgery, we love what we do. We give our patients the ability to see the world clearly. Whether this is through surgery, glasses, or contacts, we make it possible for people to have the clear vision necessary to enjoy their life. While glasses and contacts are effective, many of our patients want a permanent solution. This is where LASIK comes in. If you are in a stage of life where you are looking for convenience, we can give it to you. To find out whether or not you qualify for the procedure or to learn more about it, call and schedule an examination. In general, the best candidates for LASIK include:

People whose vision has not changed in a year.

This is an important criterion because if your vision is still changing, you do not want to have this surgery. Otherwise, your vision could improve today but worsen in several months, a year, or more. In this case, you would have to start wearing contacts or glasses again, making the surgery irrelevant.
Over the age of eighteen.

LASIK eye surgery is not designed for children. Even if your teenagers want the procedure, they should wait until they have graduated from high school and are heading off to college.
People with healthy retinas.

If your retinas are not healthy or there is not enough thickness in your corneas, the procedure could damage your eyes or cause potential complications.
LASIK eye surgery is not designed for people who:

Are pregnant or nursing.

The hormones released during pregnancy and while nursing can directly impact your eyes and your vision. In fact, many women report that their vision becomes worse during these times. To avoid needing to repeat the procedure or going straight back to glasses, wait until you are done having children or at least done nursing your child.

Have severely dry eyes.

After LASIK, the eyes become dry, and drops are required to keep them moist at all times so the eyes can heal. People with dry eyes find that the recovery is incredibly uncomfortable, even though the actual procedure is not. Those with dry eyes may even have difficulty opening their eyes afterward. Fortunately, there are prescriptions available that can reverse the effects of dry eyes, and once you no longer suffer from this condition, LASIK can become a possibility.

Have uncontrolled diabetes.

If you are a diabetic who has been unable to control your blood sugar with diet and medication, it is not the right time to have a procedure like this. Diabetic episodes can inhibit your white blood cells, making it difficult or impossible for them to do their job. This makes recovery from any surgery difficult. With that in mind, you need to wait until your diabetes is under control prior to scheduling this surgery.

To find out if LASIK eye surgery is right for you, call and schedule an eye exam, and be sure to discuss the conditions referenced above if you suffer from them.