Are you tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses? Although these visual aids are helpful, sometimes it may feel like they hold you back from being your best self.
If you’re searching for something better, it may be time to find out if you’re a good LASIK candidate! LASIK is the most popular elective procedure you can have.
There’s a good reason for LASIK’s popularity. But before you do anything, you have to find out if you qualify for the procedure.
Ready to learn more about LASIK and how it works? Keep reading to find out if you’re ready for LASIK and if it could be right for you!
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a laser vision correction procedure that treats refractive errors. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
The procedure works by permanently reshaping the cornea. Although you may have heard that LASIK wears off, it’s not true.
By permanently changing the shape of the cornea, you’ll be able to see with more clarity and detail than glasses and contact lenses could ever give you. Combine that with a short recovery period, and it’s easy to see why LASIK is as popular as it is.
How Do I Know if I’m a Good LASIK Candidate?
If you’re interested in having LASIK, the first step is to schedule a LASIK consultation at Batra Vision. A consultation is the only way to determine if you qualify for LASIK.
Several factors go into LASIK candidacy, including:
You’re at least 18 Years Old
LASIK is only FDA-approved if you’re at least 18. If you’re a teenager, you cannot have LASIK.
Just because you’re 18 doesn’t mean your eyes are stable enough to have LASIK. Many LASIK surgeons recommend waiting until your mid to late twenties to have the procedure.
Waiting until your twenties helps ensure that your eyes will not change after you have LASIK since this is when your eyes will stop developing. You may need to wait a little longer, but it’s worth it to experience visual freedom for yourself!
Your Prescription is Stable and Hasn’t Changed in at least a Year
Another crucial LASIK candidacy factor is your vision needs to be stable and remain unchanged for at least a year. If your prescription is still fluctuating, you should wait to have LASIK. You’ll get the best possible results if your vision is stable.
You’re in Good Health
Although you don’t need to be in perfect health, it is necessary to be healthy before having LASIK. As minimally invasive as LASIK is, it’s still a surgical procedure.
For this reason, if you suffer from autoimmune conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjogren’s syndrome, you may find out that you don’t qualify for LASIK. These conditions can make it more challenging to heal and recover after LASIK.
You Don’t Have Any Pre-Existing Eye Conditions
Like being healthy, another critical factor of being a suitable LASIK candidate is healthy eyes. Qualifying for LASIK means not having any pre-existing eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, or dry eye syndrome not currently under control.
If you have dry eye syndrome, this doesn’t always mean that you can’t have LASIK at a later date. Many LASIK candidates qualify for LASIK once their dry eye symptoms are managed and improved.
You are Not Currently Pregnant or Nursing
During pregnancy, it’s normal for your body to go through significant changes. One change you may not be aware of is your prescription fluctuating.
Pregnancy causes hormones in your body to affect many things, including your eyes. If you’re currently pregnant or nursing, it’s best to wait to have LASIK until three months after giving birth and finishing nursing.
Waiting this length of time helps give your eyes enough time to stabilize and return to normal after pregnancy.
You Have Thick Enough Corneas
Many factors for LASIK candidacy are easy to determine on your own. But one of the essential factors is the thickness of your corneas, which you can’t measure without a LASIK consultation.
You’ll have the thickness of your cornea measured during your LASIK consultation. You need thick enough corneas for LASIK to be safe.
Corneal thickness is a crucial component of having LASIK because you’ll have a tiny amount of corneal tissue removed during the procedure. If your corneas are too thin, removing even a minute amount of this tissue can lead to severe complications or issues with your vision.
You Have Realistic Expectations About What LASIK Can Achieve
As incredible as LASIK is, it’s important to remember that it is not suitable for everyone. Before you can have the procedure, you need to have realistic expectations of what it can achieve.
Most patients that have LASIK end up with 20/20 vision or better. However, this is not a guarantee. Every patient is different, and although LASIK can reduce or eliminate your dependence on visual aids, you may still need them after correcting your sight.
You also need to know that LASIK can only correct current refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Even after getting LASIK, you may still develop age-related eye conditions like presbyopia and cataracts.
LASIK Only Treats Current Refractive Errors
LASIK can only correct refractive errors, which occur when the cornea is an irregular shape. Both presbyopia and cataracts develop due to the natural lens.
Presbyopia occurs when the lens loses flexibility due to aging. Cataracts develop when the lens is no longer easy to see through, causing visual impairment. The good news is that you can still have cataract surgery or another procedure like a clear lensectomy to correct your vision when you’re older.
Depending on when you choose to get LASIK, you can look forward to decades of crisp, clear vision! That means no more contact lenses, investing in yourself, and seeing the world without any boundaries holding you back.
Ready to find out if you qualify for LASIK? It’s easy! Just schedule your LASIK consultation at Batra Vision in San Leandro, CA, now!
Getting LASIK can be one of the best things you’ve ever done, so what are you waiting for? Start your visual freedom journey today!
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