Do you Qualify for Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery is a great option for most people. This type of procedure is considered to be generally safe as the incidents of side effects occurring are low. But there are certain conditions that might prevent a person from being able to undergo the surgery or at the very least delay it. The best way to find out if you qualify is to visit a refractive eye surgeon so that he could give you a series of tests and to help you choose which of the many types of refractive surgery available is most suitable for you.

The best possible candidates to undergo laser eye surgery share some common characteristics. You are a good candidate to undergo the procedure if you have mild myopia (nearsightedness), or mild hyperopia (farsightedness) as well as astigmatism. Laser eye surgery cannot be used to improve presbyopia which is age related as well as other related conditions. It is also good to set your expectations at a realistic level as well as to have a thorough understanding of everything that comes with the procedure including both benefits and risks involved.

People with existing eye diseases like glaucoma or people who have had eye infections within the past few years prior to the surgery are not good candidates. There are also health problems which can affect your qualifications. The examples are autoimmune diseases (which include Lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome), herpes of the eyes, histories of eye injury as well as dry eyes. If you had your contact lens or eyeglass prescription within a year prior to the laser eye surgery procedure, you may not be able to undergo it as well.

Your cornea’s thickness and your pupil size are other factors that are very crucial in determining if you are a good candidate to undergo the procedure. Your ophthalmologist will thoroughly measure these two before deciding if you are qualified. As laser eye surgery involves slicing a part of your cornea to reshape it, it is crucial for it not to be thin. People with thin corneas have a higher risk of acquiring certain complications after the surgery. If your pupils are too large, you might risk suffering from the side effects such as the visual symptoms of glare and haloing. This is why it is important to know the size your pupils dilate to in the dark.

Your age is another factor in deciding if you are qualified for the treatment. If you are below 18 years old, you would have to wait until you’re 18 or older before getting laser eye surgery. If you are nursing or pregnant you would also have to wait before getting a procedure. But the best way to determine, accurately, whether you’re a qualifying candidate for laser surgery is to visit your doctor. He or she can give you some tests and help you to decide if laser eye surgery is the right thing for you and which type is more suitable for you.

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