Am I a Candidate for Refractive or Laser Eye Surgery?
Lasik surgery can correct your vision, which often means you will no longer need corrective lenses. However, it's not right for everyone. If you are interested in Lasik, the first step is to learn if you are a candidate for the procedure.
There are many factors that can affect whether or not Lasik surgery is right for you, including your age and health. Let's take a look at some questions to ask to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.
Do You Meet the Age Requirement?
Age is the first factor to consider. You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for Lasik surgery. There is no upper age limit. However, elderly individuals are more likely to have eye or health issues that can prevent them from being a good candidate.
Are You in Good Health?
Patients with some health issues, including uncontrolled diabetes, shouldn't get Lasik. In addition, you should avoid the surgery if you are immunocompromised due to HIV, Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or taking immunosuppressive medications.
Pregnant women should wait to get Lasik surgery. Pregnancy hormones can affect your correction prescription.
Are Your Eyes Healthy?
You'll also need to meet the criteria for eye health. Diseases that cause your cornea to deteriorate, including keratoconus, disqualify you. You'll also need to avoid the procedure if you have inflammation, infection, or an eye injury, although you may be a candidate at a later date.
Other eye conditions that can prevent you from getting Lasik include cataracts, glaucoma, or large pupils.
Lastly, if you have severe dry eyes, Lasik isn't a good idea. The procedure can make dry eye worse.
Are Your Vision and Prescription Stable?
Before undergoing Lasik, it's important that both your vision and your lens prescription are stable. If you've had the same prescription for more than 1 to 2 years, you should qualify.
If you have myopia, your prescription can change throughout your teenage years. Older adults may also have vision changes due to presbyopia.
How's Your Vision?
Some candidates with a high degree of refractive error are good candidates for Lasik surgery. However, if you have severe myopia or farsightedness, you'll need to discuss the benefits and expected outcome of the surgery with your Lasik surgeon.
If you have good vision overall, and only need glasses or contacts occasionally, the improvement provided by Lasik may not be enough to justify the procedure.
Are You an Athlete or Play Contact Sports?
If you participate in contact sports or other athletic activities where you are likely to be hit directly in the head or face, Lasik is probably not a good idea. However, on the other hand, many athletes who do not frequently face the risk of being hit on the head will benefit from LASIK because they will no longer be required to wear eyeglasses or contacts, which can improve their performance.
Do You Have Reasonable Expectations?
90% of those who undergo Lasik surgery will have 20/20 vision or better after the procedure. Few people need glasses or contacts in the years following the surgery. Lasik also has a 96% satisfaction rate, which is very high.
However, Lasik can't prevent presbyopia, which affects your near vision as you age. Older adults may need reading glasses, despite having 20/20 vision after Lasik.
Are You Willing to Wear Glasses Temporarily?
If you are currently wearing contacts, you'll need to wear glasses temporarily before the surgery. Contacts can change the shape of your cornea. You'll need to stop wearing contacts before the procedure, to allow your eyes to go back to their natural shape. If you need custom Lasik surgery, you will need to stop wearing contacts before your eye surgeon measures your eyes.
LASIK Surgery Consultation
If you think you are a good candidate for LASIK, the next step is to schedule a consultation. Consultations at SilkVision are free.
This includes a comprehensive eye exam, which will determine your eye health and reveal any concerning conditions. The surgeon will also discuss your medical history and lifestyle to help determine if LASIK is right for you.
Wavefront technology will be used to measure the shape of your cornea, and other topographical details. This allows the surgery to be customized to your eyes.
The surgeon will also perform a vision exam, to determine your current correction prescription.
During the last step of the consultation, the surgeon will explain the procedure. This includes what you can expect from the surgery, and the risks and benefits.
Looking for LASIK Surgeons Near Me?
If you are looking for Lasik surgeons near me in Virginia, contact Silkvision. We have 4 locations, including a Lasik vision center in Annandale, VA. Individuals travel from around the country and around the world to seek treatment from our expert Lasik eye surgeons.
If you've been told you aren't a good candidate by another eye surgeon, you should speak with us. With our highly skilled surgeons and the latest technology, we can take cases that most surgeons can't.
To learn if Lasik is right for you, contact us today for a free consultation. You can also start by taking our Lasik Self-Evaluation Test.
.png)
