Elections come down to two people. Electing to get LASIK, for example, ultimately comes down to you and your doctor. You decide if you want it, and your doctor determines if you’ll get the results you want, or if you’re a candidate for LASIK in the first place.
Because not everyone is a candidate for this procedure, there are several things your doctor should examine, test, assess, and make you aware of before giving you the a-okay. Here are a few of the more important ones to consider:
Vision Problems
You’re a good candidate if your vision problems are moderate. That is, moderate degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. There can, however, be cases when nearsightedness may be too severe to where the benefits may not justify the risk. LASIK isn’t recommended if you have significant vision problems, such as progressive thinning of the cornea (called keratoconus), previous corneal ulcers, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).
Stability
Generally you must have had stable vision for at least a year to be considered a candidate. The stability of your glasses/contact lens prescription is also important. If your prescription changes too much, LASIK may not have the lasting effects you wanted in the first place.
Dry Eye
Dry eye is a common, temporary side effect after LASIK surgery. This typically goes away after a short period. Many doctors, like Dr. Labor, often prescribe medications such as Restasis to help treat post-operative dry eye. Your doctor should also test for a pre-existing dry eye condition to ensure this won’t affect your surgery results.
Age
You must be 18 years of age or older to have LASIK performed. When we get into our 40s, LASIK becomes less of an option because of age-related vision issues like presbyopia (the need for reading glasses). It is possible to have LASIK performed well into your 40s if your doctor truly feels like you’ll benefit from it.
Other Things To Consider
• LASIK may not completely free you of glasses. There may be certain situations where glasses are still required, like for night driving. But compared to having to wear glasses for everything, most patients find this a minor inconvenience.
• People with diseases such as diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or HIV aren’t good candidates.
• LASIK isn’t recommended for women while they are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Perhaps the biggest consideration for your LASIK surgery in metro Dallas – Fort Worth, or anywhere, is your choice of surgeons. A reputable, skilled surgeon is who you want doing the procedure. He or she will perform a proper examination and proper testing to assure there is no significant risk. A quality surgeon will tell you the truth about everything you need to know and what to expect so you can make an informed decision.
