If you’ve worn glasses or contact lenses for any length of time, life without corrective lenses probably sounds like a slice of heaven. Imagine not having to stumble around in a blurry haze until you put your contacts in. No more smeared lenses or specks of lint right in front of your eyes. What’s not to like?
At the same time, vision correction surgery is serious. Some people have complications, and most insurance won’t pay for the procedure. You don’t want to take chances with your vision. How do you decide if Lasik is right for you?
Here are some things to consider:
Is your glasses or contact lens prescription extra strong, or very mild?
People who need a high degree of vision correction may not get good results. Those who only wear glasses part of the time may find that the risks of surgery outweigh the benefits.
Do you have a history of other eye conditions beyond simple vision correction?
A good candidate for Lasik will have a common vision problem such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination of these. People with presbyopia, a change in vision that occurs as a normal part of aging, will still need reading glasses after surgery. Some presbyopia patients opt for monovision, which corrects one eye for seeing at a distance and the other for seeing things close up.
If you have other vision problems, such as lazy eye or strabismus, Lasik may not be appropriate. Your doctor will be able to evaluate your situation and give you the information you need to make a good decision.
Have your eyes changed lately?
It’s important to have a stable contact lens or glasses prescription. If your prescription has changed in the past year, you might want to wait until your vision stabilizes. You must be over 18 years of age. Not only is this required for consent, young people often experience changes in their vision as they get older. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to have Lasik, since hormone changes can also cause changes in vision. Some medications can affect vision, so make sure your doctor knows what medicines you take.
Are your eyes right for surgery?
There are extra risks with certain conditions. Large pupils can result in seeing halos after surgery. In some cases, this can interfere with driving and night vision. Lasik reshapes the cornea by removing tissue, so patients with thin corneas may have complications. If you’ve had refractive surgery in the past, be sure to tell your doctor, since this could lead to serious complications. People with a history of dry eyes may find that surgery makes this worse.
Are you in good health?
Some medical conditions affect eyesight or interfere with healing. If you have any kind of autoimmune disease or diabetes, make sure to discuss this with your doctor.
Photo via ***j9***
