What Does it Take to be a Good Candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery?
Successful surgery requires more than an excellent surgeon. It also requires good vetting of surgical candidates. This ensures that those who undergo procedures have no medical or other conditions that are likely to interfere with a good outcome.
Because of this, the first step for any prospective LASIK surgery is to make sure that you meet preliminary screening requirements. Here are some of the things The Eye Institute of NC will check for:
Good Overall Health
For LASIK surgery, there will be extra emphasis on screaming out those with diseases of, or that are likely to affect, the eyes. These include diabetes, certain autoimmune disorders, glaucoma, and similar problems. In some cases, the determination will depend on how well-controlled the condition is at the time.
Eye Health
LASIK surgery is meant to help the eyes focus properly, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to work on an eye that is compromised by serious disease. Surgeons prefer your eyes to be in generally good shape.
Your Current Medications
Some medications make surgery much riskier than usual. Disqualifying drug types typically include immunosuppressant’s, blood thinners, and other categories that interfere with the body’s defenses. Note that in some cases, drug therapies can be suspended for a couple of weeks in preparation for a surgery, so talk to your prescriber and the LASIK surgeon about your options in this area.
Stable Vision
It’s never a good idea to try to hit a moving target with surgery. Your vision will need to have been stable for at least a year before LASIK.
Your Age
You need to be at least 18 years old. This helps to ensure the aforementioned vision stability.
Learn More About Lasik at The Eye Institute
These are just some of the items that are part of the LASIK screening process here at The Eye Institute, an optometrist in Knightdale, NC. To get the full screening and find out if you and LASIK are right for each other, just give us a call. We’ll be happy to set up a consultation.
