6 Signs You May Be A LASIK Candidate

With the growing popularity of LASIK, you may have found yourself wondering if it is right for you. While it’s true that LASIK isn’t for everyone, a majority of people who go in for a consultation end up qualifying.

To determine if you qualify for LASIK, you need a professional examination. But, you can assess a few things for yourself to prepare for your LASIK consultation.

Keep reading to learn about six signs that you may be a LASIK candidate!

You’re At Least in Your Mid-Twenties

When you’re a teenager, your body is still growing and going through changes. During that time, your vision is subject to change as well.

LASIK ceases to be effective if your eyesight changes significantly after the procedure. So to get the most out of LASIK, you should be well past full development.

For most people, this means being at least in your mid-twenties, if not older. The FDA approves LASIK for people eighteen and older, but most eye doctors would like you to be older than that.

Your Vision is Stable

Even if you’re old enough, your eyesight may not be stable. Anyone with glasses or contacts knows that prescriptions can change over time.

If your prescription changes significantly after LASIK, the procedure is less effective. Before LASIK, your eye doctor needs to know that your prescription isn’t likely to keep changing.

Most eye doctors would like you to have a stable prescription for at least two years before LASIK.

You’re In Good Health

Any medical procedure has some risk, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. While LASIK is low-risk, some conditions may interfere with recovery.

LASIK may not be safe if you have diabetes, an autoimmune disease, or any eye-related condition. But if you’re generally in good health, you’re likely to be a good candidate for the procedure.

Your Vision Problems Are Cornea-Related

There’s only so much that LASIK can correct. LASIK only fixes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

It corrects these errors by smoothing the shape of your cornea. If your vision problems are from something other than a misshapen cornea, LASIK won’t help you.

Your Cornea is Thick Enough

Most people don’t know how thick their cornea is. But it’s something that will get measured during your LASIK consultation.

Some people have thinner corneas than others. It isn’t an indication of poor health, but thin corneas can be dangerous for LASIK.

If you can’t get LASIK because of thin corneas, there are LASIK alternatives that may suit you.

Your Pupils Aren’t Too Big

As with corneal thickness, pupil size is something you probably don’t often think about. But if your pupils are too big, LASIK may cause significant issues with your ability to see at night.

When you get evaluated for LASIK, your eye doctor will assess your pupil size. If you end up not qualifying for LASIK, know that alternative vision correction procedures are available. Talk to your eye doctor about the alternatives they can offer if you find LASIK isn’t right for you.

Ready for visual freedom from LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Mid Ohio Physicians and Surgeons in Columbus, OH. Find out if LASIK is right for you!