Is LASIK the Right Corrective Procedure for You?

If you're tired of wearing glasses and contacts, then you may be thinking of getting surgery to permanently correct your vision. LASIK is one of many surgical procedures that could correct your vision to normal or near normal.

This procedure has good results for most people after they're fully healed. However, not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. If you've been considering this type of surgery for your eyes, here are some things that could affect whether or not you will qualify.

In most cases, you must be at least 18 to receive LASIK, but there's no upper age limit. You should be aware, however, that if you're over 40, your eyesight will begin to go through changes that may affect your eligibility as a candidate. You may still need reading glasses at some point as well.

You could also opt for a monovision procedure, in which one eye is corrected for seeing in the distance while the other is corrected for close-up vision. You can temporarily figure out whether monovision is right for you with contacts before you make a decision.

If you're suffering from any type of eye disease or issues like dry eye or herpes simplex virus, then you will likely be screened out. This is because these conditions affect how your eyes heal.

LASIK can also cause increased pressure in the eye, so glaucoma patients should consider an alternative. Luckily, if the condition is temporary, such as a corneal abrasion or ulcer, then you may be a candidate for LASIK once your condition has healed.

If you are extremely nearsighted or farsighted, then you could be screened out. The same goes for those with severe astigmatism. This is because it may be difficult to remove or reshape your cornea enough to correct your vision. You may also want to rethink choosing LASIK if your vision is near normal and you only need to wear glasses part-time or if you have high refractive errors.

If you have naturally large pupils, then you may not be satisfied with the results of LASIK because people with large pupils tend to experience more problems with lights at night, specifically with halos and glare. These problems can become debilitating. Your doctor will check your pupils to make sure that they are within ideal range for LASIK.

If your corneas are excessively thin and uneven, then you may not be an ideal candidate for LASIK. The procedure removes and reshapes the cornea, and it's important that there's enough material to do so while keeping the eye healthy. Your doctor will do thorough measurements to make sure your corneas are suitable for surgery.

Pregnancy and nursing, as well as any other condition that causes fluctuating hormones, can affect the shape of your cornea. Having the procedure done at this time may give you unsatisfactory results once your hormone levels get back to normal. Therefore, it's best to postpone your LASIK procedure until you are finished with your pregnancy and nursing.

After a thorough examination, your doctor or surgeon will make the final decision on whether you qualify for LASIK. Even if you're not a good candidate, you still might qualify for other procedures to permanently correct your vision.

Hummel Eye Associates is experienced with several types of corrective procedures as well as treating other eye health conditions. Contact us for an examination to see what options are available for you.