Are You A Good LASIK Candidate?
With laser eye surgery making advancements and more people relying on good vision for their career or recreation, we ventured to see what kind of person is a good candidate for LASIK.
Improving one's vision through laser eye surgery is becoming commonplace in today's society. There are a number of reasons why LASIK could benefit one's quality of life, such as improving sports performance, or better equipping you to do a good job at work. Your needs and lifestyle will determine whether or not to pursue laser eye surgery, but not everyone is a perfect candidate. This article will help get you started in determining whether or not LASIK is right for you.
Realistic Expectations
If you are considering LASIK, you also have to remember that this delicate eye surgery is not for everyone. Some LASIK providers may knowingly offer you the procedure even when it is not the right choice for your long-term vision needs. To ensure that you meet the appropriate criteria for LASIK, you and your eye doctor need to discuss your eyesight, general health and lifestyle-related vision needs. This discussion should then be followed by Advanced Diagnostic Testing to ensure that your eyes are well suited for a LASIK procedure.
Some people think that LASIK will provide them with "perfect" vision. If your goal is to achieve "perfect" vision, then LASIK might not be right for you. While it is reasonable to expect greatly improved vision and a reduced dependency on glasses or contacts, it is not reasonable to expect that you will have "perfect" vision. In general, the results of LASIK surgery - how well a person sees after the procedure - will usually be comparable to how well they were able to see before the procedure with glasses or contacts. However, every patient heals differently and results may still vary. In the end, most patients are very happy with the procedure and recommend it to their friends. If you have realistic expectations about laser vision correction then you are likely to be very satisfied after LASIK.
General Criteria For A Good LASIK Candidate
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, you may be a good candidate for LASIK if you meet the following criteria:
o You should be at least 18 years old (21 for some lasers), since the vision of people younger than 18 usually continues to change.
o You should not be pregnant or nursing, as these conditions might change the measured refraction of the eye.
o You should not be taking certain prescription medications, such as AccutaneŽ or oral Prednisone.
o Your eyes must be healthy and your prescription stable. If you are nearsighted, you should postpone LASIK until your refraction stabilizes, as nearsightedness can still increase in some patients until their mid- to late-20s.
o You should be in generally good health. LASIK may not be recommended for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or cataracts.
o Understand what your expectations are for the procedure. Are they realistic?
Most common reasons why LASIK is not right for almost 30% of people
o Unrealistic expectations (not satisfied with anything less than "perfect" vision)
o Pupils too large
o Eye health issues
o General health
o Thin corneas
o Unstable prescription
o Pre-cataract
o Prescription too high or too low
Advancements in LASIK technology have made it possible for many people to greatly reduce their use of contact lenses and glasses, in some cases entirely. Learning more about LASIK will give you realistic expectations for the procedure, and is a good approach to your long term vision needs. Unfortunately not everyone is a good candidate for laser eye surgery. The best way to determine if LASIK is right for you is by discussing your options with an eye care specialist in your local area.
Ron Packer is a successful business owner and recently did the research for his own Lasik procedure. While looking for a Northern California laser eye surgery center, he was impressed with the expertise and professionalism at Pac Laser. His research on successful outcomes shows ties to the initial consultation for discussing LASIK goals and options. More information on Pacific Laser Eye Centers can be found by visiting one of the California local sites for LASIK Sacramento, Santa Rosa, UC Berkeley, Stockton, or the San Francisco East Bay.
Realistic Expectations
If you are considering LASIK, you also have to remember that this delicate eye surgery is not for everyone. Some LASIK providers may knowingly offer you the procedure even when it is not the right choice for your long-term vision needs. To ensure that you meet the appropriate criteria for LASIK, you and your eye doctor need to discuss your eyesight, general health and lifestyle-related vision needs. This discussion should then be followed by Advanced Diagnostic Testing to ensure that your eyes are well suited for a LASIK procedure.
Some people think that LASIK will provide them with "perfect" vision. If your goal is to achieve "perfect" vision, then LASIK might not be right for you. While it is reasonable to expect greatly improved vision and a reduced dependency on glasses or contacts, it is not reasonable to expect that you will have "perfect" vision. In general, the results of LASIK surgery - how well a person sees after the procedure - will usually be comparable to how well they were able to see before the procedure with glasses or contacts. However, every patient heals differently and results may still vary. In the end, most patients are very happy with the procedure and recommend it to their friends. If you have realistic expectations about laser vision correction then you are likely to be very satisfied after LASIK.
General Criteria For A Good LASIK Candidate
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, you may be a good candidate for LASIK if you meet the following criteria:
o You should be at least 18 years old (21 for some lasers), since the vision of people younger than 18 usually continues to change.
o You should not be pregnant or nursing, as these conditions might change the measured refraction of the eye.
o You should not be taking certain prescription medications, such as AccutaneŽ or oral Prednisone.
o Your eyes must be healthy and your prescription stable. If you are nearsighted, you should postpone LASIK until your refraction stabilizes, as nearsightedness can still increase in some patients until their mid- to late-20s.
o You should be in generally good health. LASIK may not be recommended for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or cataracts.
o Understand what your expectations are for the procedure. Are they realistic?
Most common reasons why LASIK is not right for almost 30% of people
o Unrealistic expectations (not satisfied with anything less than "perfect" vision)
o Pupils too large
o Eye health issues
o General health
o Thin corneas
o Unstable prescription
o Pre-cataract
o Prescription too high or too low
Advancements in LASIK technology have made it possible for many people to greatly reduce their use of contact lenses and glasses, in some cases entirely. Learning more about LASIK will give you realistic expectations for the procedure, and is a good approach to your long term vision needs. Unfortunately not everyone is a good candidate for laser eye surgery. The best way to determine if LASIK is right for you is by discussing your options with an eye care specialist in your local area.
Ron Packer is a successful business owner and recently did the research for his own Lasik procedure. While looking for a Northern California laser eye surgery center, he was impressed with the expertise and professionalism at Pac Laser. His research on successful outcomes shows ties to the initial consultation for discussing LASIK goals and options. More information on Pacific Laser Eye Centers can be found by visiting one of the California local sites for LASIK Sacramento, Santa Rosa, UC Berkeley, Stockton, or the San Francisco East Bay.
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