What makes you a candidate for LASIK eye surgery?

• Posted on: Mar 15 2021
• By: Physicians Eye Clinic

Even if you are ready to ditch the glasses or contacts, you may not be a candidate for LASIK vision correction surgery. A thorough consultation with your eye doctor will determine whether you are a candidate for surgery. Here are some criteria to be considered:

• Age: You are at least 18 years old with stable vision. LASIK is FDA-approved for adults who have achieved ocular maturity.
• Stable vision: You have a stable prescription and your vision hasn’t changed for at least 1-2 years before surgery.
• Corneal thickness: If your cornea is too thin or misshapen, you may not be a candidate. You must have a minimum corneal thickness of about 0.5 mm.
• Health: You are in good general health and don’t have health problems such as uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disease. If you take a medication or have a condition that compromises the immune response, you may not be a candidate for surgery.
• Drugs: Certain prescription drugs such as steroids and acne medications can interfere with results.
• Eye health: You should be free from eye diseases including glaucoma, cataracts, corneal disease, keratoconus, and certain retinal and optic nerve diseases. If you have an eye infection such as pink eye, you will need to wait until it’s resolved before you have surgery.
• Pregnancy and nursing: Women who are pregnant or nursing are not candidates for surgery. Hormonal fluctuations can affect vision stability. Nursing mothers should wait at least three months after nursing to allow their prescription to stabilize. Your doctor will determine when is the best time for you to have surgery after you’ve finished nursing.
• 20/20 vision: The goal is to reduce dependency on glasses and contact lenses, but LASIK cannot guarantee 20/20 vision. You may have to wear glasses for night driving or reading after surgery.

For the right patients, LASIK is a great alternative to glasses and contacts to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Contact our Everett office at (425) 259-2020 to schedule a consultation to see if LASIK surgery is right for you.

Posted in: LASIK