Are you a candidate for LASIK?

If you have wondered what it’s like to see well without glasses or contacts, then you’ve probably thought about getting laser vision correction such as the popular LASIK procedure. But did you know that up to 15-20 percent of patients who want LASIK are ineligible for it? Here are seven things that will help your surgeon determine whether you are a candidate for LASIK.

1. The health of your eyes is extremely important when considering you a candidate for LASIK. If you have dry eye syndrome, pink eye, eye infections or any recent eye injuries, you will need to have those issues resolved before you can undergo LASIK. If you have cataracts or glaucoma, you may not be able to get LASIK.
2. Your overall health is important as well. Certain autoimmune diseases and certain degenerative conditions may prevent you from having LASIK because they interfere with the body’s healing ability.
3. The thickness of your cornea is important. LASIK reshapes the front part of the eye, called the cornea, in order to improve your vision. If your cornea isn’t thick enough for this reshaping procedure, then you may be ineligible for LASIK.
4. If you have a high prescription for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, you may not be able to undergo the procedure as LASIK results won’t be as predictable. That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be considered for other vision correction procedures.
5. If you have overly large pupils, you may be ineligible as you are at an increased risk for undesirable side effects such as glare, halos and starbursts in low light conditions.
6. Because your vision continues to change when you are young, you must be at least age 18, or 21 in some cases. You also must have a stable prescription for at least one year prior to undergoing LASIK.
7. If you are pregnant or nursing, you will need to wait to have LASIK. Hormonal changes during this stage in a woman’s life can alter the shape of the cornea.

To learn more about whether you would be a candidate for LASIK, schedule a consultation by calling (508) 836-8733.