What are the qualities of a good laser eye surgery candidate?

The best laser eye surgery candidates typically have:

• Good vision with glasses or contacts

• A stable prescription for at least one year

• No health conditions that could affect the surgery or healing process.

Here’s a breakdown of what we typically look for in a good laser eye surgery candidate:

• Your eyes must be healthy. So you must have no health conditions that could affect the surgery or healing process, such as uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune diseases, etc. nor any severe dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis (pink eye), infection, or any type of eye injury.

• Your cornea must have a sufficient thickness. The front surface of the eye (your cornea) is reshaped in most refractive operations to improve your vision. Performing laser eye surgery on a thin or misshapen cornea may lead to poor outcomes and damage your eyesight.

• Your pupils should not be too big. If your pupils are naturally large, you face an increased danger of side effects such as halos, glares, and starbursts in low light, especially while driving at night.

• Your prescription must be within certain parameters. If your prescription is extremely strong – whether due to short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or astigmatism – your eye surgeon may advise you against the LASIK procedure.

• You must be at least 18 years old. Some treatments need you to be 18 or older; others, 21. Patients younger than these ages can usually be treated as exceptions at the discretion of the LASIK surgeon with permission from their parents or guardian.

• You mustn’t be an expectant mother. The LASIK procedure is not suggested when you’re pregnant or nursing. Hormonal changes can change the curvature of your cornea, resulting in minor visual impairments.

To learn more about laser eye surgery, and whether you’re a good fit, please book online for a free virtual vision assessment on our website today.