Pre-operative LASIK Visit

The main goal of your consultation before your LASIK surgery is to determine if you are a candidate for laser eye surgery and, if so, which procedure is most suitable for you. The ophthalmologist will explain why LASIK surgery is or isn't right for you, as well as the benefits and risks associated with this type of surgery.

Before LASIK eye surgery, the surgeon will help you understand what results you can reasonably expect after the procedure, given your particular prescription and personal situation. Remember that booking a consultation appointment does not obligate you to undergo the procedure.

What are the conditions to be a good candidate for LASIK?

Age

Candidates must be at least 18 years old.

General Health

LASIK candidates must be in good general health and must not have certain health problems, including uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune disease, or collagen vascular disease, nor be taking medications or have a condition that compromises the immune response.

Eye Health

Candidates must not suffer from eye diseases, including keratoconus, glaucoma, cataracts, corneal disease, and certain retinal and optic nerve diseases. LASIK surgery candidates must not have certain eye conditions, including herpes simplex and herpes zoster.

Eye Problems

LASIK patients must inform their ophthalmologist of certain eye problems, including amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (muscle imbalance), or any recurrent, residual, or active eye condition that may influence healing. Other conditions should be discussed with the doctor, including keloid scarring from prior surgical healing, back problems, and claustrophobia. Please inform your ophthalmologist of any mental health issues, as this can also affect your LASIK surgery or healing.

Eye Injury

Patients must not have eye infections or injuries.

Breastfeeding/Pregnancy

Candidates must not be breastfeeding or pregnant at the time of undergoing LASIK surgery. Because hormones can affect the stability of your eye, pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding are not allowed to undergo LASIK surgery until three menstrual cycles after breastfeeding has stopped.

Dry Eye Problems

Patients must not experience continually dry eyes.

Stable Vision

Candidates' vision must be stable for at least one year before the surgery date.

Contact Lenses

Before your consultation and LASIK procedure, you must refrain from wearing contact lenses for a certain period. The exact duration will be determined by your doctor on an individual basis. This ensures corneal stability and the accurate assessment of your prescription before LASIK surgical intervention.

Corneal Status

Corneal thickness plays an important role in determining LASIK candidacy. Due to the nature of the procedure, candidates must have a minimum corneal thickness of approximately 0.5 mm.

What LASIK Cannot Correct

Amblyopia

Also known as lazy eye, amblyopia is muscle-related and generally found in children. LASIK will only allow you to achieve your best corrected vision with glasses or contact lenses.

Cataracts

Cataracts are generally present in people older than 65 and cause your vision to become cloudy or hazy. Cataracts are a disease of the lens and as such, LASIK cannot correct them. If you have cataracts you should be followed by a cataract specialist to determine when cataract surgery would be appropriate. If vision correction is still needed after cataract surgery, LASIK is a possibility.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve of the eye and can lead to vision loss and blindness. However, with early detection and treatment, you can often prevent serious vision loss. If you have glaucoma, your eyes and condition should be carefully monitored by a glaucoma specialist. If your glaucoma is under control, LASIK may be an option, but be aware that LASIK does not treat glaucoma itself, it only improves vision.

Keratoconus

Keratoconus occurs when the cornea thins and bulges out like a cone. The altered shape of the cornea makes light rays blurry. As a result, your vision is blurry and distorted, making everyday tasks like reading or driving difficult. If you have keratoconus, you should not undergo LASIK surgery, as it can worsen the condition. A corneal specialist should monitor your vision and keratoconus for treatment.

Consult an Ophthalmologist to See if You Are a Good LASIK Candidate

Determining LASIK candidacy must be done on an individual basis, taking into account your medical history, prescription, and other health factors. We recommend (before LASIK surgery) that you take advantage of the pre-operative consultation with a trusted ophthalmologist or at one of the laser vision eye surgery centers. This consultation, or a similar exam performed by a physician, is mandatory before any LASIK surgery at the majority of facilities performing laser eye surgery.

If the ophthalmologist determines that you are not a good candidate for LASIK today, you may still be in the future. Laser eye surgery technology is constantly improving, allowing those with higher and more challenging prescriptions to be good LASIK candidates. However, laser eye surgery is not suitable for everyone, and some patients (those with certain eye diseases involving the cornea and retina) will never be candidates. The best way to know is to have a thorough LASIK consultation with an ophthalmologist. A patient's LASIK candidacy depends on the assessment of their eyes, expectations, and lifestyle, by an experienced ophthalmologist.