Is LASIK Surgery a Good Option for You?
The most commonly performed eye surgery in the world is usually safe and effective, but before scheduling an operation you should research the details to be sure you're a good candidate and the surgery will give you the results you want.
Laser in-situ keratomileusis is most often referred to as LASIK surgery. The most common type of laser surgery performed in the United States, LASIK is generally safe and effective, and helps correct a diverse array of common problems with vision. LASIK surgery uses a laser to change the shape of the cornea permanently. The procedure is quick and usually painless, and for most patients LASIK improves their vision and often reduces or removes the need for them to wear eyeglasses.
However, LASIK is conducted on a particularly delicate part of the eye - the clear covering of the front of the eyeball. It is very important that patients or prospective patients be well educated about the risks and benefits, maintain realistic expectations about their results, and go through a thorough screening procedure first by their physician. Although many people are good candidates for LASIK, some people do not meet the medical criteria that are generally accepted in order to ensure a successful surgery outcome. People who today are not deemed to be good candidates may be cleared for the surgery in the future, because technology is constantly advancing and new techniques are continually being refined and improved upon.
To determine whether or not LASIK is right for you, you should be thoroughly examined by an ophthalmologist. People who are ideal candidates for LASIK surgery have these characteristics:
Factors sometimes exist that make a person a less than ideal candidate for LASIK, but a surgeon may still be able to perform the procedure safely. People in this category may have a history of having dryness in their eyes; they may be taking steroids or immunosuppressants, which can prevent or impair healing; or they may have scarring of the cornea. Some people are not good candidates currently but may be good candidates in the future. The surgery cannot be performed on patients who have had ocular herpes within the past year, but they can wait until a year has passed since their initial diagnosis of herpes. Pregnant or nursing women cannot have the surgery until they have had the baby and are no longer nursing. Young people under age 18 cannot have the surgery because their vision has not stabilized, but once their eyewear prescription has been stable for at least two years, they can LASIK surgery.
Some conditions and situations make it impossible for some people to consider LASIK surgery. People who are not good candidates for the surgery include those who have suffered diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, corneal diseases, thinning disorders of the cornea, or other pre-existing ocular disease that affect vision. Patients must thoroughly discuss the procedure and the benefits of LASIK, and appropriately give informed consent to the procedure prior to undergoing surgery. It is critical for patients to be cognizant of the fact that laser eye surgery involves some risk. Both the final outcome and the rapidity of healing is different for each person, and perhaps even different for different eyes in the same patient.
The majority of people who have undergone LASIK surgery are quite satisfied with their results, and have experienced significant benefits from their vision improving. But for some, the outcome does not meet all of their expectations, and a small number of patients also experience complications or have more problems than they did before the surgery. Therefore, it is vital for anyone considering LASIK to be thoroughly screened by their physician, discuss the procedure in detail with an ophthalmologist, do their own research to be fully informed, and before moving forward with the surgery, feel comfortable that they have made an educated decision based on facts.
However, LASIK is conducted on a particularly delicate part of the eye - the clear covering of the front of the eyeball. It is very important that patients or prospective patients be well educated about the risks and benefits, maintain realistic expectations about their results, and go through a thorough screening procedure first by their physician. Although many people are good candidates for LASIK, some people do not meet the medical criteria that are generally accepted in order to ensure a successful surgery outcome. People who today are not deemed to be good candidates may be cleared for the surgery in the future, because technology is constantly advancing and new techniques are continually being refined and improved upon.
To determine whether or not LASIK is right for you, you should be thoroughly examined by an ophthalmologist. People who are ideal candidates for LASIK surgery have these characteristics:
- At least 18 years old, and have worn glasses or contact lenses with the same prescription for a minimum of two years
- The cornea is sufficiently thick to allow the surgeon to create an appropriately deep corneal flap
- The person is affected by a common vision problem such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination
- The person should not be suffering from any disease that might affect the success of the surgery or the patient's healing
Factors sometimes exist that make a person a less than ideal candidate for LASIK, but a surgeon may still be able to perform the procedure safely. People in this category may have a history of having dryness in their eyes; they may be taking steroids or immunosuppressants, which can prevent or impair healing; or they may have scarring of the cornea. Some people are not good candidates currently but may be good candidates in the future. The surgery cannot be performed on patients who have had ocular herpes within the past year, but they can wait until a year has passed since their initial diagnosis of herpes. Pregnant or nursing women cannot have the surgery until they have had the baby and are no longer nursing. Young people under age 18 cannot have the surgery because their vision has not stabilized, but once their eyewear prescription has been stable for at least two years, they can LASIK surgery.
Some conditions and situations make it impossible for some people to consider LASIK surgery. People who are not good candidates for the surgery include those who have suffered diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, corneal diseases, thinning disorders of the cornea, or other pre-existing ocular disease that affect vision. Patients must thoroughly discuss the procedure and the benefits of LASIK, and appropriately give informed consent to the procedure prior to undergoing surgery. It is critical for patients to be cognizant of the fact that laser eye surgery involves some risk. Both the final outcome and the rapidity of healing is different for each person, and perhaps even different for different eyes in the same patient.
The majority of people who have undergone LASIK surgery are quite satisfied with their results, and have experienced significant benefits from their vision improving. But for some, the outcome does not meet all of their expectations, and a small number of patients also experience complications or have more problems than they did before the surgery. Therefore, it is vital for anyone considering LASIK to be thoroughly screened by their physician, discuss the procedure in detail with an ophthalmologist, do their own research to be fully informed, and before moving forward with the surgery, feel comfortable that they have made an educated decision based on facts.
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