Am I a Candidate for Lasik?

People who suffer from poor vision can benefit from several treatments to improve or correct their vision. LASIK, for one, is a popular procedure that helps correct poor vision. Millions of people have benefited from it over the years. 
 

However, eye surgery is not for everyone. If you are hoping to get LASIK, you will need to schedule a consultation to know if the procedure is ideal for you. You can find out if you are a candidate for LASIK. 
 

Are You Over 18 Years Old?

To be a good candidate for LASIK, you need to be 18 years or older. Before 18, an individual is still growing, with the eyesight likely to continue changing. Going through puberty involves hormonal changes that can affect the eyes and vision. 

Having eye surgery at this point before the eyes stabilize is not beneficial as the eyes may continue to change. If you are over 18, you can benefit from LASIK. 

Stable Vision Prescription

Your prescription may continue to change even after the age of 18. To be a good candidate for LASIK, you need a stable lens prescription. This means your eyeglass or contact prescription should not have changed for at least two or three years. 

Your vision should have been stable for at least a year. This will help ensure that the procedure is as effective and beneficial as possible. 

Good Overall Health

You need to be in good overall health to qualify for any surgery, including LASIK. If you have diabetes or some autoimmune diseases, you may not be a good candidate for laser surgery. 

There are eye diseases that can disqualify you from LASIK candidacy. Conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts can make it unsafe to get LASIK. Your eye doctor can talk to you about other vision correction options. 

You Do Not Have Dry Eye

To be a good candidate for LASIK, you should not have a dry eye condition. The condition can make it difficult to recover from the procedure. Pre-screening for LASIK will include checking for dry eye. 

If you experience dry eyes and want to get the procedure, the doctor will recommend treating the condition first. There are ways to treat the dry eye condition, allowing you to get LASIK after the symptoms clear.   

Certain Prescription Limits

When it comes to correcting vision, LASIK can only go so far. Your eye surgeon will set the limits that the procedure can correct. So to be a good candidate for LASIK, your eyeglass prescription will need to be within certain limits. 

If your prescription is strong and is beyond the limits, you may need to consider other procedures. LASIK is ideal for nearsighted patients, but it can also work for farsightedness and astigmatism. 

The eye surgeon will consider other factors to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK. To qualify for the procedure, you should have a thick cornea. You should not have an active or a history of corneal disease, and you should not be pregnant or nursing.
 
To find out whether you are a candidate for LASIK, visit Eye Care Optical Clinic at our offices in Philadelphia, Wyomissing, Bethlehem Twp, Philadelphia, or Doylestown, Pennsylvania. You can call (215) 698-7760, (610) 376-7272, (610) 866-1000, (215) 878-7181, or (215) 230-4060 today to schedule an appointment.