As with all medical procedures, not everyone is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Some people may be perfect candidates, while others may need to discuss this with a physician as well as their eye surgeon, and others still may not even be considered as candidates. Basically, in order to determine eligibility, it is important to speak with your eye doctor to determine if LASIK eye surgery is an option for you. Look for a reliable eye doctor or eye surgery center with a good reputation, a long history of performing LASIK procedures, and quality service.
The basic guidelines for LASIK eye surgery are fairly straight-forward. First, you must be at least eighteen years of age; some doctors may even have a minimum age limit of twenty-one. Obviously, you must have eyes that are free from any infection, disease, or any other condition that could adversely affect surgical healing. Also, do not consider LASIK if you are currently pregnant or nursing, since these hormones can affect your vision. You must also have maintained your current vision for a minimum of twelve months prior to surgery. Furthermore, you won’t be eligible for LASIK eye surgery if you have any disease, such as an autoimmune disease, that could effect surgical healing. If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, you still may not be an ideal candidate for LASIK eye surgery. As with all surgeries, there are many factors that need to be considered for eligibility.
In order to be considered a "perfect" candidate for LASIK eye surgery, there are still more guidelines. You should have maintained the same prescription for eyeglasses and/or contact lenses for a minimum of twenty-four months. The thickness of your cornea should be ideally suited to allow the eye surgeon to create a flap. Also, your vision problems should be relatively simple, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination of one of the two former with the latter.
If you are interested in LASIK eye surgery and fit all of the base criteria, discuss the surgery with your eye doctor. However, if you don’t meet the eligibility requirements for LASIK, consider an alternate option. LASIK is not ideal for everyone. There are other treatments that are available, and your eye doctor will help you find one that is appropriate for you.