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Are You a Candidate for Lasik Eye Surgery?

by Vic Bilson

It’s imperative that you get all the Lasik eye surgery information you can find before you have the surgery. Try to talk to someone who has had the surgery. As important as it is to read all about the procedure, there’s no substitute for the first-hand experiences of someone who has been there.

Although you’re sitting in a chair in a doctor’s office and conscious, Lasik eye surgery is surgery and as such, there are risks and complications to consider. In fact, not everyone is a candidate for Lasik. Your doctor should be willing to answer all your questions and provide literature about the procedure and the risks and benefits. After your doctor has evaluated you, get a second opinion if he tells you that you are not a candidate for Lasik. If the next doctor tells you the same thing, take him seriously!

Who wouldn’t be a candidate for Lasik eye surgery? Obviously, if you’re not in good overall health, it wouldn’t be wise to sign up for any elective surgery. You can't have a disease that could slow healing such as diabetes or lupus. If you're pregnant or nursing, you'll want to put it off until later.

You must be at least 18 years old and have had a steady prescription for glasses or contacts for at least the previous 2 years. In addition, your cornea, the part of the eye that is cut to make a flap so that the laser can then remove corneal tissue, needs to be a certain thickness in order for the flap to be successfully cut. If your eye doctor tells you that your cornea is too thin for Lasik eye surgery, listen to him because it could cause permanent damage to the cornea if that small incision doesn’t go right.

Make absolutely certain you disclose all of the medications you’re taking to your eye surgeon.

Finally, there are a few occupations, though not many, that will not accept you if you have Lasik eye surgery. Certain jobs within the armed forces, pilots, and some jobs that require frequent immersion in water are some examples where this could be a problem. Even if you’re not currently affiliated with one of these jobs, you’ll want to think of your future.

Your vision will certainly be blurry for at least a day or two after your surgery. Some complications that can arise include continued blurry vision, halos around light and glare. You may have difficulty driving at night for some time. It could take several months for your vision to stabilize. At first, you can expect some burning, itching, and even a little pain.

Your doctor will give you some guidelines to adhere to after surgery. Follow these carefully. Don’t wear eye make-up until it is safe to do so. If you have severe pain, however, contact your doctor immediately.

Are You a Candidate for Lasik Eye Surgery?

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