For many, the thought of anyone or anything touching their eyes induces anxiety or at least some degree of uncomfortableness. With the image of a laser pointed directly into your eye with your cornea being flapped back, patients may wonder “will LASIK work for me?” The reality is that not everyone is an ideal candidate for LASIK surgery. Patients with extreme levels of myopia or corneal thinning may not be eligible candidates for LASIK. Other factors that may take you out of the running for a LASIK procedure include age eligibility (must be at least 18 years old), cannot be pregnant or nursing, prescription drug usage (certain medications such as retinoic acid and steroids can affect healing time), unstable vision, poor general health (conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma or cataracts can inhibit results), dry eye syndrome, pupils inability to dilate properly, and unrealistic expectations.
If I do not fit the criteria of reasons LASIK will not work for me, how can I know if LASIK will work for me?
LASIK is just about the most common eye surgery to correct vision for nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Suitable candidates are over 18 years of age with a prescription that has remained unchanged for at least 12 months. One other factor in determining the success of LASIK eye surgery is in the thickness and health of the corneas.
Assuming you are in optimal health and meet the requirements for LASIK eye surgery, your doctor will provide you with a comprehensive eye exam to then schedule your procedure. In general, the success of elective LASIK surgery boasts a 96% rate both in quality of vision and patient satisfaction. Over 90% of patients achieve 20/20 or better vision following the procedure, suggesting that if your eye doctor determines you are an ideal candidate for LASIK eye surgery, LASIK will indeed work for you.
Your eye health and vision clarity should be entrusted to a board-certified LASIK surgeon. On behalf of our team, Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center welcomes you to our full-service ophthalmology practice offering the latest in LASIK eye surgery and eye care. To find out if you are a LASIK eye surgery candidate, set up an appointment by calling 804-288-1543 or visiting online at WEBSITE.