Over and over again we hear of the overly positive LASIK reviews. Patients seemed enamored with the procedure that aims to correct vision to a point as near to perfection as possible. But, the outcomes are not always so overwhelmingly positive. Though LASIK has very high percentages of success, not every patient can boast a twenty-twenty vision at the outcome. Fewer still have even worse tales to tell. It is very important to remember that bad outcomes are very few and far between and these tales should not frighten you away from a procedure that could enhance your outlook on life by a drastic degree. Instead, from this message, you should come to understand the importance of choosing the right ophthalmologist and being sure that the right questions are asked.
First and foremost, you should be the right candidate for the procedure. In some cases, it is just not the right fit, there is a better procedure for you to consider, or there is need for another surgery- such as cataract surgery, glaucoma procedures, or something else- to be done prior to LASIK. However, following these general guidelines will give you a head start in knowing whether or not LASIK is for you.
First be sure that your actual age and your eye age are appropriate. By this I mean that people under the age of eighteen are rarely accepted for the procedure and sometimes even those between eighteen and twenty-one are denied. The reason for this is that their eyes have not had time to mature. In order to be a good candidate for LASIK, your eyes must have had a stable prescription for at least one year. Eyes that are still in the process of changing will not take to the surgery as well and the outcome will be unlikely to last.
Secondly, the eyes must be healthy and so do you. This is why some require a surgery prior to LASIK. Those with cataracts, glaucoma and other eye defects can be turned down and likely should be. Other conditions of the eye, such as chronic dry eye and conjunctivitis can cause the procedure to be put off. In a similar sense, autoimmune and degenerative diseases, such as HIV, AIDs, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes can cause a person to be denied the procedure because their body is unable to heal correctly. Pregnancy is another factor that will put off the practice. This is for many reasons, including increased fluid changing the shape of the eye and the fact that some of the medications would not be tolerated well by the infant.
Finally, your eye’s prescription must fall within a certain range to be considered acceptable candidates for the surgery. If they fall outside this range, you might be better off to consider another procedure such as toric. Austin has many qualified professionals who can help with any potential procedure.
If you do not meet these criteria and a thorough exam of the eyes is no performed, you run an increased risk of complications after surgery. These can include edema (swelling of the eye), poor nighttime vision (including starbursts, haloing, and added intensity of street lights), irregular astigmatism, or Keratectasia (a bulging of the eye’s surface). Some of these complications can be corrected or lessened with time or additional surgeries, while others cannot, which is why it is essential to err on the side of caution.
About the Author: Mark Masters has authored may pieces on the eye care & surgery industry and enjoys keeping his readers up to date in this field
