Good LASIK Candidate: LASIK is a surgical procedure that helps people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. While there are many things to consider before deciding to have the surgery, it’s essential to work with a surgeon who understands your lifestyle and offers you all the information you need.
If you’ve ever considered laser eye surgery, there are a few essential things that you should know before making a decision. You should be aware of your candidacy for LASIK surgery, which will help determine whether or not you’re suitable for the procedure.
So, are you a good Lasik surgery candidate? In this article, one can get a fair idea about the matter.
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Who has the green light to undergo LASIK?
Good candidates are adults above 18 with stable vision and good eye health. Additionally, they should have a corneal thickness of at least 400 micrometers; astigmatism of fewer than 2.0 diopters; and no significant medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or autoimmune diseases (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis).
Top Red Flags that disqualify you as a good LASIK candidate
There are several significant reasons why you may not be a good LASIK candidate, but the following five red flags should disqualify you from having the procedure:
- You have a history of dry eyes.
- You’re allergic to mold or pollen (even mild allergies can cause problems).
- You have an autoimmune disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis and are taking medications that can affect the eye, including steroids (like prednisone) and azathioprine.
- Your corneas are thin, or your retinas are too fragile for laser vision correction surgery.
- If you’re pregnant at the time of your scheduled procedure because pregnancy disrupts hormone levels that keep tissues healthy before surgery. Therefore there’s an increased risk of bleeding under the retina flap during surgery which may lead to complications such as macular hole formation.
A good candidate will have FDA-approved prescriptions.
The FDA has approved LASIK for patients with prescriptions within a specific range. The range of allowable prescriptions is between -8.00 D and +5.00 D. In addition to a prescription requirement, cornea thickness and shape must also fall within the FDA-approved ranges for a patient to be eligible for laser vision correction surgery.
Other factors associated with being a good candidate
To be a suitable candidate for laser eye surgery, one must have ocular maturity. This means that your eyes have reached their full growth and development, which typically happens by age 18. Your prescription has to be stable too.
Your eye health is also essential. You must not have any history of eye trauma or inflammation (i.e., a scratched cornea), nor should you have had recent eye surgery or been diagnosed with corneal disease (such as keratoconus).
Final Thoughts
LASIK is the most common and popular method of laser eye surgery, and it can help millions of people achieve better vision without glasses or contacts. But only some qualify for the procedure. You need to know first if you qualify as a Lasik surgery candidate.
So how do you know if this is right for you? Before making any treatment plans, it is recommended first to speak with an experienced eye doctor who can assess whether or not laser eye surgery would benefit your specific needs.