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Who Is a LASIK Eye Surgery Candidate?

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FAQ, LASIK Information

Are you over the age of 18? Do you wear glasses or contacts? Has your vision been stable for more than a year? If you can answer yes to these three questions, then you may be a good LASIK eye surgery candidate.

You’ve most likely heard people talking about LASIK at the gym, a cocktail party, or in your office. Have you been trying to decide if you would like to have LASIK surgery? Do you know if you’re a LASIK eye surgery candidate? The only way to know if you’re a LASIK eye surgery candidate is to have a thorough consultation conducted by a LASIK surgeon.

Who Qualifies as a LASIK Eye Surgery Candidate?

In order to have laser vision correction surgery, you must meet the following criteria.

  • According to the FDA, you must be 18 years or older.
  • Your vision should be stable for more than one year. If your vision has not stabilized, there is a higher risk that your LASIK results will not last.
  • You wear corrective lenses for near, distance or both.

Some people assume they are not a LASIK eye surgery candidate because they have an astigmatism, their vision is too bad, or their vision is not bad enough. None of these reasons typically come into play when determining if you are a LASIK eye surgery candidate. Certain individuals may have specific vision issues that will disqualify them as a candidate, but these issues cannot be identified until a LASIK surgeon examines your eyes.

Who Does Not Qualify as a LASIK Eye Surgery Candidate?

There are many factors a laser vision correction surgeon will look at when evaluating a patient to determine if they are a good LASIK eye surgery candidate. Some factors will make you an immediate non-candidate. A few examples are:

  • You have cataracts or the onset of cataracts. There is a possibility that you may be a LASIK eye surgery candidate, but not until after you’ve had cataract surgery completed by a cataract surgeon.
  • Your vision is not stable, meaning your prescription has changed one or more times during the last year.
  • Your cornea is too thin. This can only be identified by specialized corneal mapping to be conducted by your LASIK surgeon’s technicians.

The first step in finding out if you’re a LASIK eye surgery candidate is to make the call to schedule a LASIK consultation. At a reputable practice, you should not be pressured into anything. The appointment should be educational. If you have not had any previous eye surgery, most surgeons offer complimentary consultations. However, beware not all consultations are created equal. During your LASIK consultation, you should always expect to meet your surgeon and have a dilated exam performed on your eyes. This is what you can expect at Providence Eye & Laser Specialists. Dr. Mozayeni or Dr. Nunnery look forward to meeting you and determining if you are a qualified LASIK eye surgery candidate. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!