Are You Healthy Enough For LASIK?
LASIK eye surgery does carry a degree of risk and there quite a few factors that affect your ability tobe a good candidate for LASIK. If you aren't a good candidate, you will be subjected to a great degree of risk and are less likely to experience LASIK's positive results. You should consult a specialist LASIK doctor in order to see if you are a good candidate LASIK.
Age
People who are under 18 years of age will be disqualified from undergoing LASIK surgery as their eyes are changing and their prescription is typically unstable. Most doctors will advise you to wait till you are at least 21 years old to further minimize the chances of risks. Generally, LASIK doctors will conduct the surgery only if the patient's vision has been stable for at least a year.
Dry eyes
A possible, yet harmless, side effect of LASIK is a temporary dry eye condition. If you already have a dry eye condition, this is going to be far more noticeable and troublesome. People who have a severe dry eye condition are typically disqualified as LASIK candidates due to the extra risk involved. If you have dry eyes and still want to get LASIK, you will have to wait until your condition subsidizes.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
Pregnant women are automatically disqualified as LASIK candidates because the hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy can affect the stability of vision. Typically, women will have to wait for at least 3-4 menstrual cycles after the completion of breastfeeding to be eligible for LASIK.
General eye health
Candidates will need to possess healthy eyes that are free of diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, optic nerve diseases, and other forms of eye disease. Scarring of the cornea and the eye from previous injuries, diseases, or surgery is also enough to disqualify a LASIK candidate. If you have a history of eye disease, consult a LASIK doctor to see if the surgery is possible.
Other health problems
There are numerous other health issues that can prevent a person from being a good LASIK candidate. If a patient suffers from severe diabetes, autoimmune diseases, claustrophobia, or various other diseases that leave the patient immunocompromised, the patient is unlikely to be a good LASIK candidate.
Undergoing LASIK surgery is a serious commitment that could produce wonderful results. If you are ineligible for LASIK, you may have to wait for some time before improvements in technology are made for you to undergo eye surgery.
