Am I A Good LASIK Candidate?

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on July 9, 2020

Are you tired of wearing contact lenses? Do you ever wonder what life would be like without needing glasses or contacts?

They improve your vision, but they can be inconvenient, frustrating, and uncomfortable. If you find yourself daydreaming about life without contacts, talk to your doctor about LASIK.

One of the most important things to know is if you are a good candidate for LASIK.  Since LASIK is an elective procedure, you need to know if the risks outweigh the results.

You need to educate yourself about the best way to fix your vision and learn if LASIK is the proper procedure. Your surgeon will check several things to determine if you are a good candidate.

They will let you know what their recommendation is after checking these factors. There are guidelines that patients need to meet to get LASIK.

Almost 20% of potential LASIK candidates are not a good fit for the procedure. Keep reading to find out if you could be a good LASIK candidate!

Do You Meet the FDA Guidelines?

There are parameters that your prescription needs to be within to meet the FDA guidelines to qualify for LASIK. You can have a maximum of +6.00 diopters of hyperopia and astigmatism and up to -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness.

If your prescription is any stronger, you may be a better candidate for a procedure like PRK.

Are You In Good Health?

Patients need to be in good health to qualify for LASIK. If you have certain medical conditions or take specific medications, it could make it harder to recover.

If you have these conditions or take these medications, LASIK may not be a good choice. In order for your eye doctor to make a good decision, you need to share your full medical history with them.

Are Your Eyes Healthy and Stable? 

The FDA has approved LASIK for candidates 18 or older. But most surgeons prefer candidates to be in their mid to late twenties.

You also need to have a stable prescription for at least six months to two consecutive years. To undergo LASIK, you need healthy eyes.

This means that your eyes are disease, infection, and injury-free. Having healthy eyes is important because it allows you to have the best recovery process possible. 

Are Your Corneas The Correct Shape and Thick Enough?

LASIK works because it reshapes your cornea. The cornea is what allows the eye to focus light to create an image on your retina.

LASIK is not as effective if the cornea is the wrong shape or too thin. During your consultation, your doctor will test the thickness and shape of your cornea.

They look at these things to make sure you can get good results and to manage your expectations. A small amount of corneal tissue must be removed for LASIK to be successful. If your corneas are too thin, LASIK may be too dangerous.

Manage Your Expectations

Like any surgery, LASIK eye surgery has limitations. To have a successful procedure, you need to understand the limitations, so you can enjoy your final results.

If a patient is unaware of the possible results, they might not like the results they get. Your eye doctor will explain the entire procedure to you.

This is the perfect time to ask your eye doctor any questions about LASIK. Before you have LASIK, you need to be comfortable with the procedure!

If you meet all these qualifications, then you are likely a good candidate for LASIK. The only way to know for sure is to have a LASIK consultation.

Are you ready to schedule a LASIK consultation? Schedule one at Missouri Eye Institute in Springfield, MO today!