Am I a Good Candidate for Lasik?

There are many people who are keen on having LASIK surgery and would like to know how the procedure works, its benefits and its risks. These potential candidates should consider the requirements before taking the next step forward. Although every individual case should be discussed with a qualified LASIK physician, here are some guidelines to determine if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK vision correction.

First of all, the eye has to be fully developed. This means that those who are under the age of 18 will need to wait for some time before LASIK can be performed on them, since it is likely that the shape of their eye will continue to mature for several more years. If the shape of the eye alters after the LASIK operation has completed, the visual acuity will be affected. As this can be the case, some LASIK surgeons recommend that the youngest age suitable for such as procedure is 25.

Along the age limit, the potential candidate should also have a prescription that been stable for at least 1 year. The reasons for this are similar to the aforementioned but also, it is best to minimize potential complications, such as inducing an irregularly shaped eye.

Another point regard to age is that there is no real maximum age limit to LASIK surgery. There have been reports of patients in their 50s and 80s who have successfully undergone the procedure with satisfaction. In these cases, it is important to note whether or not the tear film is healthy and is uncompromised from other pathologies, so that it can lubricate, nourish and protect the eye post surgery.

The suitable LASIK candidate should also not have had an eye infection or injury since the past year. This can include, but not excluding, keratitis, conjunctivitis, blow out fracture, scarring and the like. The ocular problem must not be recurring either, such as herpes zoster infection, as this will screen out the potential candidate.

The medical history of a prospective LASIK client also plays an important part. If the patient is prone is chronic disease, such as lupus, then this will also prevent the person from booking a surgical appointment. You should elucidate all medical conditions, including past and present, to your doctor to ensure that risks to you are minimized. Women who are pregnant or nursing should also be extra patient for such procedures.

A competent LASIK surgeon will be wary of those suffering from dry eye syndrome and will not allow such people to have LASIK performed on them. Once again, this is mainly due to the patient being unable to produce a tear film of sufficient quality. However, certain things can be done to allow these people to have LASIK done on them, such as taking flaxseed oil or eating foods high in omega 3 fatty acids to help with the production of a sufficient tear film. Additionally, those people whose pupils dilate very widely to eye drops are also not a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery.

The following was just some of the most common things that could allow or prevent a person from being a suitable LASIK candidate. Most people in general, who have had no history of ocular disease, trauma and stable prescriptions (or stable vision) should have no problem having LASIK performed on them. To find out more details about LASIK, you should call a LASIK center or surgeon and see if you can get the zap!