Have you ever thought, “Am I a good LASIK candidate?” If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it is likely that you have grown to have a love-hate relationship with them. While your glasses or contact lenses help you see clearly, they can often be quite annoying. For instance, the feeling of a frame on your face may start to irritate you throughout the day, and the worry of running out of contact lenses may be unsettling.
In either case, the most inconvenient thing about glasses and contact lenses is that without them, you cannot see. Can you imagine being able to see clearly from the moment you wake up without having to grab your glasses or put in your contact lenses? LASIK has the opportunity to make that dream a reality!
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is an FDA-approved surgical procedure on the eye that reshapes the front of your eye so that you can see clearly. While you are awake during the procedure, anesthetic is applied to prevent you from feeling any pain.
Typically, the recovery time is only 24 hours, after which you’ll be able to clearly see day and night! In addition, LASIK is a safe procedure. In fact, 90% of patients are successful at achieving 20/20 vision or better, and 99% of patients are successful at achieving 20/40 vision or better (JCRS, Vol. 42, Issue 8, August 2016), both of which would make you eligible to pass the DMV Vision Standards in California. It is important to note that the likelihood of achieving a successful outcome with LASIK depends on whether you are a good LASIK candidate for the procedure.
So, what makes a good candidate for LASIK? Take a look at the following list:
- Having refractive error (within certain limits)
- Nearsightedness (Myopia) < -11.00 D
- Farsightedness (Hyperopia) < +5.00 D
- Astigmatism < 5.00 D
- Older than 18 years old (best age after 25 years old)
By this time, your vision and overall development is generally stabilized. If your prescription is still changing, you will need to wait until your vision has been stable for at least one year before getting LASIK done. - Not pregnant
LASIK is not recommended for patients who are pregnant because your vision can change during pregnancy. We recommend completing the LASIK procedure after you have given birth and after your vision has remained stable for at least 12 months. - Have a healthy body and healthy eyes
LASIK is recommended for people who have no underlying systemic conditions like an autoimmune disease, which may potentially prevent you from healing properly. In addition, it is recommended for people who do not have ocular conditions such as keratoconus, dry eyes, glaucoma, or cataracts.
Keep in mind, if you are someone who has higher amounts of nearsightedness and you are not a good LASIK candidate, there’s a newer procedure called ICL (implantable collamer lens). This may be a good alternative surgery option if you have ever been told your prescription is too high for LASIK.
If you are interested in getting LASIK done, we encourage you to come in for a consultation appointment! At the appointment, our eye doctors will carefully evaluate your prescription, eye health and personal lifestyle to determine whether you are a good candidate for LASIK. If you are a good candidate for LASIK, we will refer you out to our trusted partner LASIK surgery center so that you can part ways with your glasses and/or contact lenses. If you have any questions, feel free to call or text us as 909-627-1111 so that we can help you out. We hope to see you soon!