Am I a Good Candidate for Lasik?

 

Many people ask “Am I a Good Candidate for Lasik?”, this questions can be answered with this article or speaking with a physician at the Yaldo Eye Center. Do you meet the requirements? If so, call 1-800-398-3937 to receive an evaluation where we take precise measurements of your eyes to determine if you are ready for Lasik. You may also Schedule a Free Lasik Evaluation today through our Website.

Quick Summary:

• You must be at least 18-years-old to undergo Lasik and preferably 21 years old.
• You must not have had any significant change in your vision prescription given to you by your optometrist for at least one year.
• Chronic eye disorders such as dry eyes, glaucoma and any others must first be taken care of before undergoing Lasik.
• Your prescription can be no more than 14 diopters of myopia or within 6 diopters of hyperopia or astigmatism
• You must not be pregnant or nursing
• Any chronic illness or disease such as arthritis must be stabilized prior to Lasik

Full Read:

Many people are interested in getting rid of glasses through Lasik, and want to know the benefits, the risks, and how the overall Lasik process works. One of the first things to for some to consider is the requirements that should be met in order to have a successful Lasik procedure. Although every individual case should be discussed with a physician at the Yaldo Eye Center, here are some general guidelines to see if you are a good candidate for Lasik Eye Surgery.

First, one’s eyes must be “mature”. This means that those under the age of 18 need to wait before Lasik can be performed, as it is likely that the shape of their eyes are still changing and will be for a few more years. If the shape of the eye were to change after having undergone Lasik it will render the procedure ineffective. Some Lasik physicians recommend waiting until age 25, but if you are over the age of 21 you should undergo a Lasik evaluation as in most cases, people are ready by this age. Seeing a Michigan Lasik eye surgery specialist prior to surgery is always a necessity, as they will go over your history and ensure you are fully prepared to have Lasik.

In addition to an age requirement, the person’s vision prescription should be stable for at least one year, and preferably for at least 2. If you’re optometrist hasn’t changed your glasses prescription in a few years your eyes are most definitely stabilized. This is for the same reason as above, that the Lasik procedure will only continue to be effective if the shape of the eye remains stable after Lasik. Your vision prescription must also be no more than 14 diopters of myopia or within 6 diopters of hyperopia or astigmatism. For those with vision prescriptions outside this range, there exist many other options such as Lasek and Implants which can be discussed with your Lasik surgeon.

Another note on age restrictions in regards to Lasik is that there is no maximum age when it comes to undergoing Lasik, as many patients in their 50s to their 70s and 80s have experienced highly successful Lasik procedures. The main thing to consider in these cases is whether there is adequate tear production or not for successful healing and lubrication of the eyes after Lasik. The main reason why Lasik isn’t common for those over the age of 50 is that there are procedure such as lens implants which are more effective for elderly patients and can prevent cataracts from forming in the future. Many people ask Am I a Good Candidate for Lasik, this questions can be answered with this article or speaking with a physician at the Yaldo Eye Center.

The Lasik candidate’s eyes should be “healthy”. Having healthy eyes means that before undergoing Lasik you should have had no prior eye infection or eye injury for at least 1 year as this can increase the risk of complications after Lasik. The candidate must also have no scarring on the cornea of the eye as this can interfere with the laser machine. In addition, they must not have any sort of recurring or chronic eye problem, such as a history of herpes infection in the eyes or recurring dry eyes or swelling. All of these issues can increase the chances of a complication during the procedure or the patients eyes not healing properly. Seeing a Michigan Lasik eye surgery specialist prior to surgery is always a necessity, as they will go over your history and ensure you are fully prepared to have Lasik.

The general medical history of a Lasik candidate is also a very critical piece of the puzzle. An ophthalmologist will always look over a patient’s medical history before approving a Lasik procedure to ensure there is no history of something that could potentially put a patient at risk. Some chronic health conditions and autoimmune disorders like Lupus for example, could prevent people from being able to undergo Lasik as to avoid any sort of risk to the patients’ health. When visiting your Michigan Ophthalmologist, you should be very clear and open about any and all medical conditions that you have, have experienced, or at high risk of, as well any health conditions that are extremely common in your immediate family. In addition, women who are pregnant or nursing should wait to have a Lasik procedure scheduled until well after they have delivered. This is just a general precaution that is taken for most medical procedures to ensure a safe procedure and a fast recovery for the patient. Many people ask Am I a Good Candidate for Lasik, this questions can be answered with this article or speaking with a physician at the Yaldo Eye Center.

An experienced Michigan Lasik surgeon will also avoid performing Lasik on someone who has chronic dry eye syndrome or any other similar conditions. Having adequate tear production is very important for the healing process after Lasik, though for minor issues this is often supplemented by medication after Lasik. In addition, people with eyes that dilate very widely are not good candidates for Lasik and should speak with an ophthalmologist about other options for getting rid of their glasses.

These guidelines are a majority of the most common reasons why person should have to speak with their doctor about an option other than Lasik. Most healthy people without eye issues who are dealing with standard vision problems will benefit greatly from Lasik. The most important thing to consider when ensuring you have a safe procedure is that it is performed by a trained, highly experienced Michigan Lasik eye surgery specialist who has done thousands of cases in their career such as Dr. Yaldo.