LASIK is a popular and highly successful treatment for vision problems. LASIK can treat various vision problems, but the procedure isn’t for every patient. Some criteria should be fulfilled to be eligible for Lasik surgery.
Age
However, the patient must be 18 years old to be eligible for LASIK. The reason LASIK is only suitable for those over the age of 18 is that eyes continue to grow and change with age. And while LASIK is legal if they are 18 or older, many ophthalmologists recommend that patients in their early 20s stabilise the shape o their eyes.
Unstable Vision
People with visual impairments often find that their vision changes over time. It is not uncommon for patients to require a stronger prescription when undergoing regular eye exams. If vision changes, the changes made during LASIK treatment are temporary, and vision results are not permanent.
Insufficient corneal thickness
During LASIK treatment, a small incision is made in the top layer of the cornea.
This incision creates a flap that allows the underlying tissue to reshape. After making changes, lower the flap and allow the tissue to heal.
The corneal flap created by LASIK is skinny, but there must be enough tissue for the LASIK surgeon to work with when making the flap. For this reason, the patient’s corneas determine if they are suitable for LASIK surgery. If you have an abnormally thin cornea, LASIK treatment is not appropriate. These patients may consider alternative procedures such as PRK, which do not require a corneal flap.
Other Eye Problems
LASIK surgery is effective in treating abnormalities that cause refractive errors. However, a patient may not be an ideal LASIK candidate if other conditions that affect vision or threaten eye health are present, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye. Similarly, if a patient has an eye injury or eye infection, they cannot have LASIK until these conditions.
Health
Eye health is vital to a LASIK candidate, as is general fitness. Because LASIK is a surgical procedure, people must be healthy enough to receive treatment and heal in time. Health conditions that can affect LASIK candidates include autoimmune. It has diseases and conditions that affect the ability to heal, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Pregnant or breastfeeding
LASIK is not recommended immediately before or after pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations and the possibility of fluid retention can lead to changes in vision correction in pregnant women. Also, it would help if you enlarged your eyes to get LASIK. Medications for dilatation after LASIK surgery can be absorbed through mucous membranes and harm the fetus.
I am taking prescription drugs.
Certain prescription drugs may affect LASIK results.
For example, some steroids can delay healing and reduce optimally corrected vision. Acne medications can cause severe dry eye. Dry eyes may increase the chance of corneal scarring after LASIK.
You Have Dry Eye Syndrome
A person having Dry Eye Syndrome is usually not a candidate for LASIK. People with dry eyes are at an increased risk of experiencing significant discomfort after LASIK treatment, which may exacerbate dry eye symptoms. A dry eye can also delay proper healing. It doesn’t mean that people with dry eyes can’t get LASIK.
Unrealistic Expectations
You should not expect perfect vision after LASIK. Many LASIK advertisements often mislead those considering laser eye surgery, promising them to stop wearing glasses and contacts. Most patients who undergo LASIK have excellent results. But don’t expect perfect vision. Post-surgery care varies from patient to patient. After having LASIK, it is always possible that you will need to wear reading glasses or corrective lenses for at least some activities, especially at night.
During LASIK, the diameter of the eye area exposed to the laser should be 6 mm. It is the case with most lasers used during LASIK. If the pupil dilates typically to 7-8mm in darkness, it can cause unwanted glare, halos and starbursts around lights at night. However, the treatment zone of the new laser is over 7mm, so this has fewer side effects. Ask about the types of lasers your LASIK surgeon uses and how much coverage they can treat.
Who is suitable for LASIK surgery?
Before having LASIK surgery, you should consider the following:
Your rating should remain constant for at least six months and one year. Also, the eyelids should be thick and healthy (at least 500 microns). Your exquisite health should be satisfied.
Therefore, you should have realistic expectations of LASIK. Also, clarify what you can and can’t do. Also, glaucoma is unsuitable for people with severe nearsightedness, farsightedness or abnormalities. LASIK is also not recommended for people with vision problems, thin corneas, uncontrolled diabetes, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Therefore, an ophthalmologist will thoroughly examine your eyes. Also, before LASIK, leading eye specialists will review all details—they check in. Measures corneal diameter, finds pupil size, and calculates vision problems.
What else can I expect after LASIK surgery?
Some patients have reported good results after LASIK. As a result, nearly 99% of patients gain 20/20 or 6/6 visual acuity. A person can live without glasses or contact lenses. Relaxing after a proper procedure is also a good idea. It also reduces eye irritation within a few days after surgery.
