LASIK, CATARACTS & LENS IMPLANTS

Q:Who Is a Good Candidate for LASIK?

A:LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive surgery and for good reason. LASIK is virtually painless and offers fast, outstanding results, often surpassing 20/20. LASIK offers a fast recovery and freedom from glasses. So it comes as no surprise that it is such a sought after procedure. Especially now during the COVID-19 outbreak, when wearing a mask makes glasses fog up almost constantly. Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK though. There are many factors that go into determining if a patient is a good LASIK candidate. Generally speaking, patients considering LASIK should be at least 18 years old, have a steady prescription and good general and ocular health. Patients with certain health conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune disease or certain eye diseases may not be eligible for LASIK. Pregnant and/or nursing mothers should not have LASIK. The best way to determine if you are a good LASIK candidate is to set up a consultation with a surgeon in your area that specializes in LASIK. He or she will conduct a thorough screening which will include measuring your prescription, corneal curvature, corneal thickness, testing for dry eye, and other important measurements that are required to determine candidacy. Age, lifestyle and even occupation are also important considerations when determining eligibility. After your evaluation, your surgeon will go over the results with you and discuss whether LASIK or other vision correction options are best for you.