LASIK Criteria for Success: How To Tell If LASIK or PRK Is It For You
While many people would like to undergo LASIK
or PRK surgery, not everyone is candidate. If you are interested
in undergoing LASIK or PRK surgery, you will need to take a close
look to see if this type of surgery is for you. While medical
conditions within the eyes themselves, or physiological characteristics
of the eyes, will determine whether or not you are a candidate
for LASIK or PRK, there are lifestyle issues that can also be
a determining factor in your LASIK criteria for success. Whether
or not you qualify for LASIK or PRK will depend on an initial
evaluation by an ophthalmologist, and looking closely at lifestyle
and budget issues.
In order for an ophthalmologist to gain accurate
results on your first examination, it is important that you stop
wearing contacts and switch to eyeglasses a few weeks before your
first appointment. Your ophthalmologist will then look at your
eyes, and your medical and prescription history, to see if you
are a potential candidate for LASIK or PRK. Some potential factors
that can reduce your chances of qualifying for LASIK surgery that
your ophthalmologist may find include: prescription history, medical
problems, current medications, eye conditions and physiology,
and thin corneas.
LASIK surgery is generally not recommended for
those who have not had the same eyewear prescription for at least
two years; people who are taking medications which may contribute
to fluctuating vision, or who are currently on steroids, are also
usually not good candidates for eye surgery. Those who have medical
conditions such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases and disorders,
or who are pregnant or breastfeeding are also not good candidates
for LASIK or PRK. Eye conditions and physiology which may reduce
your chances of obtaining good results from LASIK or PRK procedures
include: inflammation of the eyelids, large pupils, thin corneas,
glaucoma, uveitis, and previous eye surgeries.
If your ophthalmologist clears you for LASIK or
PRK surgery based on your physical and medical history, you will
then need to take a close look at your lifestyle and budget. There
are some jobs in which LASIK or PRK surgery is prohibited, and
there are some types of lifestyle activities that can harm the
outcome of corrective eye surgery. As a general rule, those who
are frequently engaged in contact sports, or sports in which the
eyes can be damaged, should avoid LASIK or PRK surgery. Corrective
eye surgery such as LASIK or PRK can also be quite expensive,
and the costs have been rising in recent years due to new and
improved technologies. If you are thinking about having LASIK
or PRK procedures, take the entire cost of the procedure into
consideration. Make sure that you will be able to afford the surgery,
or that you can keep up on any financial payments that you arranged.
Keep in mind that not everyone can handle corrective
eye surgery. The procedure itself is generally painless and quick,
but it can still be stressful for some people. If you are at risk
for having too much stress or anxiety during the surgery, than
you should wait until these fears are conquered. You will also
need to be aware of the risks of the surgery, and comfortable
with taking these risks.
