As we've discussed, people with realistic expectations are good candidates for LASIK: you may need glasses or contact lenses again in the future, and you have to be okay with that!
Your glasses prescription needs to be stable. Many LASIK centres recommend that your refractive error should be stable for at least 1 year, but I tend to be more conservative and would recommend at least 2 years. Therefore, teenagers are not good candidates because their eyes are still growing and changing.
Generally, LASIK can correct people with the following refractive errors...
Myopia up to --10.00 D
Hyperopia up to +6.00 D
Astigmatism up to --4.00 DC
This also depends on your corneal thickness. The higher your glasses prescription, the more tissue the laser needs to remove, and thus the thicker your cornea needs to be in order for the procedure to be done safely. This is VERY important, as having corneas that are too thin can lead to ectasia, which is a loss of the integrity of the cornea's structure; i.e. the cornea can't maintain its shape and bulges out, leading to vision loss.
You must be in good general health to be eligible for LASIK.
The following people are NOT ELIGIBLE for LASIK:
People under 21 years old
Women who are pregnant or nursing; hormones can affect the stability of the prescription
People with any eye diseases that affect the cornea, such as Dry Eye, Keratoconus, Herpes Simplex Keratitis, Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus
People with other eye diseases, including retinal or optic nerve diseases
People with only 1 good eye, including amblyopia
People with other health conditions that may affect healing, including autoimmune conditions
Your optometrist/ophthalmologist can advise you on your eligibility depending on your personal ocular and medical history.
Now, if you're still eligible, read on to find out more about the potential risks involved with LASIK.
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