If you have been considering laser eye surgery, you are about to decide to have the sharpest possible vision of your life. And you are not alone; millions worldwide enjoy lens-free vision due to simple, permanent corneal correction.
Laser eye surgery is not only for those with severe eye problems, as always assumed. As a matter of fact, it is available to everyone who needs to experience sharper and better vision. For some, the need for best laser eye surgery may be to forget the pains and inconveniences of wearing contact lenses and eyeglasses.
No matter what your reason might be, what is essential is to know whether laser eye surgery is the most suitable corrective option for you or not. From experience, those people who only desire to undergo laser procedures because of their incredible results eventually have terrible consequences. That is why you must first know if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery before approaching a surgeon.
See Also: A Complete Recovery Guide to Help You After Laser Eye Surgery
How would you find out?
The best way to know your eligibility for laser eye surgery is to visit your healthcare provider for a detailed medical checkup. At times, your doctor may ask you to come for several medical examinations on different schedules to have complete knowledge of your medical history and present condition.
Meanwhile, that approach will cost some money as the doctor would charge you for consultation and examination. But is it compulsory to pay before knowing your eligibility for laser eye surgery? No. Indeed, that’s the reason for this article. To ease you, we have compiled the eight things your doctor will consider before recommending you as a good candidate for the procedure.
8 Criteria to Be a Good Candidate for Laser Eye Surgery
1. Your eyes must be healthy
Of course, laser eye surgery is supposed to fix your vision problems and give you perfect sight. Yet, you won’t be able to undergo the procedure if you have existing eye issues.
An optometrist is an eye care professional who ensures the eyes are in perfect health. Meanwhile, an ophthalmologist treats more severe eye conditions and performs surgeries as recommended.
The golden rule is to ensure your eye is perfectly healthy before advancing to laser eye surgery.
2. Your body must be in good health
Is there any difference between this point and the one above? Yes! It is one thing to be healthy in the eye and another to be healthy overall. Indeed, you must be sure you are not nursing any infection in your body when thinking of having a laser eye surgery
Suppose there are some long-term issues with your general health. In that case, we advise you to stick to other corrective measures like eyeglasses and contact lenses. Else, you may develop worse conditions after the laser surgery. Some of the conditions that may prevent you from having laser eye surgery include:
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic pain conditions
- Depression and more.
3. You must be above 18 years
Laser eye surgery is for adults. Don’t think about the procedure if you are not up to 18 years old. Then, your doctor may advise you to wait until you are twenty years old before surgery. Typically, most ophthalmologists claim the procedure is better for people in their mid-20s. The reason is that people’s prescription changes are more notable within the teen years and early twenties. By waiting till the mid-20s, you can be sure of a more effective surgery performed without complications.
4. You fall in the lens prescription range
Laser eye surgery is not advisable for people whose lens prescription is unstable. To be safer, you must be sure your vision conditions fall in the approved range. For the records, laser eye surgery is for patients with up to +6.00 diopters of farsightedness, -12 diopters of nearsigthedness, and 6.00 diopters of astigmatism.
In rare cases, you may not qualify for laser eye surgery even if you meet the approved lens prescription above.
5. You must not have a constantly changed vision
Suppose your vision prescription changes regularly, like every six months or a year. In that case, your consultant may advise you not to undergo laser surgery. Instead, he may ask you to wait till your prescription becomes stabilized for at least a year. The current prescription of your sight matters if you want effective laser eye surgery.
6. You must not be pregnant
Laser eye surgery is not for pregnant women. That might not go well with pregnant women, but it is a mandatory criterion. The act is that pregnancy hormones affect the body system and even every outer part of the body, including the eyes. As a result, pregnant women experience constant changes in vision, which is not good enough for a laser eye surgery patient.
If you are pregnant when diagnosed, you can consider eyeglasses or contact lenses as hour-perfect alternatives. Meanwhile, you can’t still undergo laser surgery during the period you are breastfeeding. You will have to wait longer to be a qualified candidate for the surgery.
7. Your corneas must be thick enough
Laser eye surgery involves removing and reshaping your cornea. If the cornea isn’t thick enough to withstand the procedure, severe complications might occur afterwards. Of course, you may not likely know the thickness of your corneas. You are not an optical professional. But, you can visit an optometrist to have a check.
8. You must be ready and sure
Indeed, laser eye surgery produces admirable lasting results that can encourage people to desire the surgery. Yet, you must be sure you are a good candidate before attempting it. Your doctor is in the correct position to recommend you for laser eye surgery. Even if you think it’s your best solution, for now, there might be some underneath factors that may disqualify you. Hence, your cat is sure you are eligible for laser eye surgery until your doctor pronounces it.
Final Thoughts
Laser eye surgery is arguably the most effective refractive surgeries that bring lasting solutions to vision impediments. When you notice any imperfection in your vision, you should visit an optometrist. The professional will conduct tests and refer you to an ophthalmologist for surgery if necessary.