Authored by: Dr. Fareed Ali
If you are farsighted, nearsighted or have astigmatism, you may be a candidate for LASIK treatment. With the right patient and the right surgeon, refractive eye surgery can be incredibly successful in giving you excellent vision without the use of glasses or contact lenses.
Unfortunately, LASIK isn’t for everyone. Some patients are better candidates than others. Rarely, due to eye characteristics or medical reasons, some patients cannot have the LASIK procedure. Here at OCC LASIK, we’ll help you get freedom from glasses and contact lenses by first determining if you will qualify for this beneficial procedure.
Understand Your Risks
The risk of complications with LASIK is relatively low, but all surgeries involve some type of risk. Be aware of the rare but occasional complications that can affect your eyesight. Your OCC LASIK surgeon will discuss these with you.
Consider Career Concerns
Very few organizations actually prohibit employees from having LASIK, but it’s important to check with your employer and ensure that there are no conflicts with your career. Discuss your recovery time with your doctor and factor this information into your conversation before you approach you employer.
Is Your Vision Stable?
It’s normal to experience changes in your vision prescription from year to year, but if your vision is fluctuating you may not be a good candidate for LASIK. Your preoperative assessment at OCC LASIK will identify if this is a concern.
Other Health Concerns
If you suffer from any autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, or other medical conditions such as diabetes you may not be a good candidate for LASIK, as your postoperative healing ability may be compromised and it will take your body longer to recover after surgery.
Age
No strict boundaries have been set in regards to LASIK and age, but this technique is rarely used on patients under the age of 18. Likewise, older patients may develop cataracts or other vision issues later in life that can affect the long-term results of LASIK.
Corneal Disease
A corneal disease called keratoconus may make you less eligible for LASIK. This disease decreases corneal strength and may show up as an abnormal curvature during testing. Although you may not be a candidate for LASIK or other lser vision correction procedures, new advances are made every day that increase your chances of finding a surgery option that works for you. Also, patients with very thin corneas may benefit from other laser vision correction procedures aside from LASIK. Your team at OCC LASIK performs a comprehensive exam of your cornea to identify these conditions.
Visit OCC LASIK
The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery is to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor here at OCC LASIK. We’ll provide you with a full assessment from an experienced doctor to determine your candidacy.
Initial consultations are free and full of valuable information that can help you get your freedom from glasses and contact lenses.