Who is a Candidate for LASIK?

Are you frustrated by the limitations of contact lenses or prescription eyewear? If you have less than perfect vision caused by astigmatism or near/farsightedness you may be interesting in having laser eye surgery to correct your vision, or more specifically, LASIK - laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis.

LASIK is a procedure used to correct the shape of the cornea, which is the dome-shaped lens that covers the front of the eye. People suffering from myopia (nearsightedness) have visual issues caused by the way light entering the eye is refracted by the cornea. Instead of being focused directly on the retina at the back of the eye, the light that is refracted by the cornea focuses either in front of it, behind it, or at multiple different points. Exactly which this is depends on the refractive error the patient has. In all of these instances, blurred vision occurs to some extent. Fortunately, not only prescription lenses can correct this, but also LASIK.

Laser vision correction is a very common procedure that is designed to correct the vision of people with refractive eye errors. It has very few side effects and is considered low risk. The majority of patients who choose LASIK laser vision correction find that their vision is so improved that, once they have recovered, they have little to no reliance on prescription eyewear.

 

Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?

Although it’s a very popular procedure, LASIK is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution and isn’t necessarily the best choice for every patient. There are multiple laser vision correction techniques, and it may be that after assessment, one of these is found to be more suitable.

Your suitability for LASIK will be assessed by your eye doctor who will book a consultation appointment for you. During this visit, your doctor will carry out a review of your optical health, perform a physical examination of your eyes, and discuss your health in general, asking if you are taking any regular medications. They will discuss what you can expect to happen during your LASIK treatment, including how the technique is performed. They will ask you what your expectations are and talk to you about what you should expect after treatment. They will also answer any questions you may have.

So how does your eye doctor decide if you are a good candidate for LASIK? These are a few key questions, that if you can answer yes to, mean you could potentially be a suitable candidate for the procedure.

• Are you at least 18 years of age?
   

• Do you have no history of corneal disease?
   

• Do you have sensible expectations of the outcome?
   

• You are not pregnant or breastfeeding an infant
   

• You have had stable vision and prescription for the last 12 months
   

• You have no current medical problems linked to your ocular health
   

• You have no diagnosed eye problems such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or macular degeneration

Whilst LASIK is a highly effective technique in correcting vision, it should be remembered that there is no guarantee of perfect vision. While most people will have clear vision without the need to continue to wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, there may be circumstances where wearing glasses may be required to help you achieve the desired improvement in your vision, such as in more challenging visual conditions like driving at night.

If you would like to discuss LASIK in more detail, or to find out if you could be a suitable candidate for this treatment, schedule an appointment at Focus Eye Care, P.C. in Hackensack, New Jersey by calling (201) 654-0602 today.