Every patient is unique, and a free, preliminary screening will determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery. But we know you are wondering now about the possibility of getting life-changing LASIK surgery. So, here’s a checklist:
You must be old enough
You must be at least 18 years old and have a stable refraction.
You are not too old
Generally people over age 50 are not the best candidates for LASIK eye surgery as they begin to need glasses to read the fine print. As people age, the risk of getting cataracts and glaucoma also increases. Still, there’s really no cut-off age where we’ll tell you that you are too old to have LASIK. Many patients older than 40 experience improved vision for years, making the surgery a worthwhile investment.
Your eyes are healthy
It is important for eyes to be generally healthy, free of diseases, injuries and infections. Other conditions can also affect the success of surgery. For example, if you do not have enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated, LASIK surgery can aggravate dry eyes.
Your vision is stable
Your eye prescription hasn’t changed significantly in the past two years.
Your prescription is within FDA-approved treatment parameters
If your prescription is very high – due to astigmatism, farsightedness or nearsightness – your surgeon may advise you against getting the surgery. High refractive errors are not as predictable for success of LASIK eye surgery, and the surgery may not be worth the expense.
Good LASIK candidates generally have prescriptions that are …
- Up to +6.00 diopters of farsightedness (hyperopia)
- Up to 5.00 diopters of astigmatism
- Up to -14.00 diopters of nearsightedness (myopia)
You are healthy
Some diseases, medical conditions and medicines can increase the risk of LASIK eye surgery. Opinions vary among eye surgeons, so this is a topic to discuss with your eye physician during your comprehensive evaluation.
You are not pregnant
Hormonal changes can affect the shape of your cornea so you should wait until your vision and hormones have stabilized after giving birth and nursing.
Now, let us help you determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Let’s set up a free screening. It’s the first step to changing the way you see the world.
