LASIK facts

LASIK surgery

Lasik eye surgery is effective in the treatment of astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness, so if you have any of these conditions then you might be eligible for treatment. If you wear glasses or contact lenses to correct these vision problems, then you may also be a good candidate for lasik surgery.

Age is also a factor. You would not qualify for lasik surgery if you are younger than eighteen or over seventy years of age.

There are certain health conditions that can slow the healing of your eyes after lasik surgery. Some of these conditions are autoimmune deficiencies, diabetes with retinal disease, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, eye infections, very dry eyes, or an inflammation of the eye. Corneal diseases that cause cornea degeneration, or if the cornea's tissue is too thin, either naturally or due to keratoconus, would not usually make you a good candidate for lasik surgery. If you have extra large pupils, this might disqualify you from lasik surgery as well. If you are pregnant and nursing, or if you plan to become pregnant you would likely not want to undergo lasik surgery at this time, although you might become a good candidate after you have completed nursing for several months.

Some of the complications brought about with the above conditions might not make you eligible for lasik surgery, whereas others might make you a good candidate for having another type of corrective laser eye surgery for your vision problem. Some of the conditions listed above might not stop you from receiving lasik surgery if the condition is stabilized. It is imperative before you make any decisions about lasik surgery that you get a comprehensive eye examination with a lasik surgeon, and then the doctor can discuss with you what options are available to best meet your vision requirements.

The beauty of lasik surgery is that it is a quick and quite painless procedure. You can most often get both eyes done in less than thirty minutes. No needles are used; instead, numbing drops are placed in the eye for your comfort. Many patients often have improved vision almost immediately after the surgery, although there can be changes in your vision for up to a few months. So check with your doctor and see if lasik surgery is right for you.