Am I a Qualified Candidate for Lasik?

According to the Laser Eye Institute, more than 10 million Americans have had LASIK eye surgery since the FDA approved it in 1999. If you are one of the 90 percent of adults between 18 and 65 years old who are qualified candidates for LASIK, you can enjoy its benefits, too.

What Is LASIK?

LASIK is an eye surgery done to correct your vision. The procedure uses a unique cutting laser to remove the underlying tissue at the cornea (the clear front part of your eye). This is done to recover your eye’s focusing power.

What Makes You a Candidate for LASIK Surgery?

When your eyes do not focus light the way they should, your eyesight becomes blurry. Ophthalmologists call this a refractive error and recommend LASIK eye surgery. Refractive errors may cause you to see an object clearly when:
 

• You are close to it (nearsightedness).
   

• You are far away from it (farsightedness). 
   

• When everything is blurry because of the shape of your eye (astigmatism).
   

If you are experiencing any of these issues, talk to your ophthalmologist about whether LASIK is appropriate for you. You are a qualified candidate for LASIK if:
 

• You Are Above 18 Years Old
   

You must be above the age of 18 (preferably 21 years or older). At this age, your vision is stable and does not change a lot. Unstable vision can make the outcome less effective.
 

• You Are in Good Overall Health
   

Certain health issues such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and uncontrolled diabetes could hurt your chances of undergoing LASIK surgery. This also includes taking certain medications or having health issues that compromise your immune system.
 

• Your Eyes Are Healthy
   

To undergo LASIK surgery, you should be free of dry eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, keratoconus, corneal illness, and other retinal illnesses. These underlying illnesses and other previous eye injuries can disqualify you from LASIK surgery.
 

• Your Vision Is Stable
   

Your vision should be stable for not less than a year before LASIK surgery. This means that the level of farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism you have did not worsen for at least 12 months before LASIK surgery.
 

• You Stop Wearing Contact Lenses Before LASIK
   

Before your LASIK treatment, you should not wear contacts for a certain period. Contact lenses can change the shape of your cornea, so you will need to stop wearing them a set period before your surgery.
 

• Your Cornea Is Not Thin or Uneven
   

Because LASIK surgery involves removing underlying tissue from your cornea, your cornea needs to have a certain level of thickness to qualify for the surgery. Your eye doctor will measure your cornea and determine your suitability for LASIK. If you fail to qualify for LASIK, your doctor will recommend other treatment options to help correct your vision.
 

• You Are Not Pregnant or Nursing
   

It is not advisable to have LASIK surgery during pregnancy and nursing. This is because hormonal changes during pregnancy and nursing can affect the structure of the cornea. Thus, surgery could bring about incorrect changes to your cornea.

To know whether you are a qualified candidate for LASIK, visit City Eyes Optometry Center at our clinic in Sherman Oaks, California. You can also call 818-960-1300 or 818-981-2489 to book an appointment today.