Tired of wearing contact lenses? Do your glasses always seem to interfere with your everyday life?
There are many reasons you may be considering laser vision correction. VisionPoint Eye Center offers free LASIK consultations that will help determine if you are a good candidate. Keep reading if you want to know what our LASIK team and surgeons check during your consultation that will help deem you a good LASIK candidate!
1. Stable Vision
The LASIK procedure will only correct blurry vision caused by your natural refractive error. LASIK will not reverse any damage to your vision caused by any other eye conditions.
Our LASIK surgeons want your glasses prescription to be stable for at least two years before having LASIK. If you have a stable prescription prior to LASIK, it will be less likely that you will need the additional help of visual aids after the procedure.
2. You’re Not Pregnant
Pregnancy hormones affect many parts of your body, your vision included. Pregnant women usually experience vision changes that can either be permanent or temporary.
If you are pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding, your surgeon will require you to wait before having LASIK. Our surgeons recommend waiting at least three months after you are finished breastfeeding before having LASIK. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, your surgeon will recommend waiting at least four months after having LASIK.
3. Healthy Eyes
It is important for your eyes to be healthy prior to having LASIK. A good candidate for LASIK will not have a history of eye injuries, chronic dry eyes, or recurrent eye infections.
Good eye health is vital to an optimal vision outcome after LASIK surgery.
4. Sufficiently Thick Corneas
During LASIK surgery, your LASIK surgeon creates a flap on the clear front surface of your eye called the cornea. Then, they reshape the tissue beneath this flap to correct your vision using a precision laser.
In order to make the flap on your cornea, it must be adequately thick to remain functional and healthy post-op. If your corneas are too thin, your LASIK surgeon may not be able to safely perform the procedure without permanently damaging your vision.
5. Good Health
In addition to having healthy eyes, you also need to be in good general health. Although LASIK is a relatively simple outpatient procedure, any significant health conditions can affect your candidacy for the procedure.
In order for your cornea to heal properly after surgery, your body must be healthy enough to fight infection. Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of infection and interfere with the healing process.
Some autoimmune disorders, taking certain medications, and uncontrolled diabetes may affect your candidacy for LASIK.
6. You’re In Your Twenties or Thirties
By having LASIK during your twenties or thirties (or as young as 18), you will have the maximum amount of time to enjoy a glasses/contacts-free lifestyle. You will not have to worry about reading glasses until your forties. You will also save a lot of money on glasses/contacts over the years AND still get the benefit of clear vision during those years. More bang for your buck!
Those who have LASIK in their forties (or older) will need help seeing up close with reading glasses or opt to have monovision LASIK (one eye treated for distance vision and the other eye treated for near vision) or simulated with a temporary contact lens if monovision is not desired full time. Presbyopia is the natural aging process of the eyes where your lenses begin to lose their flexibility, thus hindering your ability to see up close without reading glasses. This normal vision change usually happens between the ages of 40 – 45 and will even affect those who have had LASIK in their younger years.
7. Your Pupils Are Not Too Large
If you have large pupils, you are more likely to experience starbursts, glares, and halos in low light for a few weeks after LASIK. Your eye doctor or technician will measure your pupil size at your consultation.
Before qualifying you for LASIK surgery, your surgeon will ensure your pupil size doesn’t increase your risk of adverse side effects after the procedure. Generally speaking, it is rare that pupil size is a problem at our practice because of the advanced technology we use to avoid this issue.
Can’t Wait to Reduce Dependency on Your Glasses or Contacts?
LASIK is a life-changing procedure that can allow you to experience greater visual freedom. Our dedicated LASIK team and surgeons at VisionPoint Eye Center are committed to making sure you’re well-informed and confident about getting the LASIK procedure.
Are you interested in learning if you are a candidate for LASIK? Schedule your free LASIK consultation at VisionPoint Eye Center in Bloomington or Champaign, IL, today!
