Are You a Good Candidate for LASIK Surgery?

• Posted on: Oct 15 2019
• By: www.silversteineye.com

If you have been wearing eyeglasses to help correct issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, you are well aware of the frustrations eyeglasses present. Even contact lenses can become a chore in time. Due to the commonness of the LASIK procedure, many people at some point consider if they should undergo this treatment to reduce their need for glasses or contacts. The better question is “am I a good candidate for LASIK?” Here, we discuss how that can be discovered.

Eye doctors who perform LASIK typically do more than consult with a patient about their desire to toss their eyeglasses. Certain tests are usually performed to understand what is going on in the eyes and how to address is successfully and safely. Some of the common screenings include:

• Intraocular pressure test. It is important to check intraocular pressure regularly to determine the risk of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease in which pressure within the eye can gradually damage the optic nerve.
• Pupil size. A quick pre-operative assessment of pupil size determines the degree of risk of LASIK side effects like halos or glare. Larger pupil size may increase this risk.
• Corneal examination. Because LASIK corrects vision by reshaping the cornea, it is necessary to use topography to measure the steepness of the corneal curvature. Knowing this measurement, the eye doctor has an accurate map of the eye from which to develop surgery. In addition to curvature, a corneal examination measures the thickness of the cornea and checks for abnormalities or corneal disease.
• Eye lubrication. Tears are critical to the prevention of dry eye, infection, and corneal tears. Poor tear quality before LASIK may increase the risk of chronic dry eyes after treatment.
• Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are refractive errors. To plan the LASIK procedure, the eye specialist must determine the current prescription for vision correction. The best candidates for LASIK have a refractive error that has been stable for at least one year.
• Medical history. Before conducting the various other tests mentioned, your doctor will discuss your medical history to confirm you have no preexisting health conditions that could degrade the effectiveness of the LASIK procedure.

Are you interested in learning more about LASIK? Call 908.879.7297 to schedule a consultation in our Chester, NJ office.

Posted in: LASIK