by Being dependent on eyewear for clearer vision comes with its fair share of frustrations. Getting LASIK in Los Angeles could be the solution to freeing yourself from having to wipe your smudged glasses for the thirtieth time today or from having to reposition your contacts that moved after you blinked. In order to get a LASIK surgery done, you must be a good candidate. But how do you know if you’re a good candidate?
Here is a list of some of the criteria for being a strong and qualified LASIK candidate.
Your Eyes Must Be Healthy
While you want to get LASIK for better vision, your eyes need to be healthy first and foremost.
This means you can not have severe dry eyes, an eye infection, or pink eye. If you have pink eye, you will not be able to have the surgery until healed.
If you experience dry eye issues, it is important that you talk with your eye doctor or LASIK specialist, as they may be able to treat your problem. If possible, they can also get your eyes healthy enough to undergo laser eye correction surgery too.
Your Prescription Needs to be Between a Specific Range
LASIK is often described as the best laser eye surgery in Los Angeles because of its ability to correct many vision problems. However, in order to receive such great results, your prescription cannot be too high. This goes for farsightedness and farsightedness, as well as astigmatism.
Generally, the lasers that are used during LASIK are approved by the FDA to correct prescriptions of up to:
- +6.00 diopters – farsightedness
- -12.00 diopters – nearsightedness
- 6.00 diopters – astigmatism.
These prescriptions may vary as your patient profile, and surgical method must be considered. Be sure to speak with your LASIK specialist.
You Must Be At Least 18-Years-Old
18 is the minimum age to undergo laser eye surgery. Most patients are usually older than their early 20’s, however because your eyes are still changing and evolving. There is no age cap for LASIK. In fact, many adults are happy with their results in their 40s and onward. Older patients may still need glasses or contacts for reading or other tedious activities.
Your Prescription Must Be Stable
Your prescription should remain the same, or in a similar range, for at least one year to qualify as a good LASIK candidate. If your prescription changes after every annual eye exam, this laser eye surgery may not be for you. Why? LASIK corrects your current vision at the time. If your prescription constantly changes, you will most likely need to undergo it again. Your altogether LASIK eye surgery cost will increase significantly as each procedure adds up. If you don’t want this, wait until your prescription stabilizes.
This reason goes along with why most patients are in their late 20s because their eyes are still changing up to the early 20s.
You Should Be In Good Health
Your eyes should be healthy, but your body should also be healthy. If you have any disorders or illnesses that prevent the body from healing, it’s important to let your LASIK specialist know. Those with the following conditions may not be good candidates:
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Depression
- Autoimmune Diseases such as HIV/AIDs and Lupus
- Chronic Pain Conditions such as migraines or IBS
You Should Not Be Pregnant
When pregnant, your body goes through multiple hormonal changes that can affect your vision. Those who are pregnant should wait until they are no longer pregnant or nursing to be evaluated for LASIK surgery. If your LASIK appointment occurs after pregnancy, you may have to push it off for a few months so your prescription can return back to normal.
Appropriate Thickness In the Corneas Matter
Your corneas must be at a certain amount of thickness to be a possible candidate for LASIK. The laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea, so if your corneas are too small, to begin with, it’s possible not to receive the desired results. In recent years, however, technological advancements in the lasers used for LASIK have allowed certain patients with thinner corneas to get the procedure done. Speak to your LASIK specialist to be sure!
That’s a look into the criteria of what it takes to be a good LASIK candidate. Talk to your eye doctor, such as Doctor Moosa of Excel Laser Vision Institute, and confirm whether LASIK is a good fit for you!
