Who Are and Aren't Candidates for LASIK?

If you are considering LASIK eye surgery, you will have to qualify as a candidate for the procedure. First you must meet the physical health and age standard for the particular procedure you are considering. You must understand the procedure and be aware of the risks and possible side effects. The standard guidelines may help you estimate your suitability for surgery. A consultation with a LASIK surgeon is necessary to determine if you are or are not a candidate. The physical, health, and age requirements include that the patient must be18 years of age and have healthy eyes, a stable eyeglass prescription for at least one year, and a vision within the correctable range of the procedure you have chosen. Most procedures cannot be performed if you have a history of autoimmune disease, are pregnant or nursing, have a history of eye disease or previous eye injury, and take prescription medications that may effect the healing of the cornea or vision. It is essential that you read all the literature your ophthalmologist gives you thoroughly, and ask questions on anything you don�t understand and need additional explanations. Make sure to read the consent form and make sure you understand it before you sign it. You should also be aware that refractive procedures do not stop the natural changes that occur as the eye ages. An example of this is presbyopia, which is the loss of close-up focusing ability. This happens to most people over the age of 40. Corrective lenses or another laser procedure is needed to correct this problem. Your surgeon will also cover any risks and possible side effects of the procedure you will be receiving. Usual side effects associated with laser eye surgery include visual abnormalities. With some procedures, patients have reported seeing halos or starburst around lights at night, which can create havoc with night vision. Dry eye is another side effect of LASIK surgery. Symptoms of dry eye are common for many patients following surgery and can be relieved with the use of artificial tears. Many times the condition goes away on its own during the weeks or even months after the surgery. If the patient had dry eye prior to the surgery, dry eye will become a persistent problem. Some patients experience some discomfort during surgery and some eye irritation after surgery. Some patients have reported sensitivity to lights for a few days following the surgery. With some procedures the patient will see immediate results of better vision once the surgery is performed. However, with other procedures the results may not be noticeable for a few days or weeks. There are other side effects not listed here, so make sure you read the literature provided by the surgeon. This will enable you to weigh the risks against the benefits when making your decision about whether or not to have the procedure. To learn more about LASIK surgery as well as PRK, conductive keratoplasty (CK), and ReSTOR� intraocular lenses, it is important to visit our Omaha, Nebraska LASIK surgery practice.