Who Should Get a LASIK Evaluation?

July 2, 2021

Are you one of the 150 million Americans who suffer from a refractive error? If so, you must have thought about improving your vision with refractive surgery.


One of the most popular solutions for enhancing focusing power is the laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). You should schedule a LASIK evaluation with your eye surgeon if you live with some form of refractive error, such as:

 

• Myopia (Nearsightedness): This vision problem leads to distant objects appearing blurry while nearby ones look clear. Myopia is the most common refractive error worldwide. 
   

• Hyperopia (Farsightedness): In contrast, this vision problem causes nearby objects to appear blurry while distant ones look clear. Some cases of hyperopia can cause both nearby and distant objects to seem blurry. 
   

• Astigmatism: This type of refractive error causes the objects you're viewing to appear blurry or distorted. This occurs because your cornea isn't spherical as in a normal eye. Instead, they are shaped more like a football. As a result, the object isn't focused on a single image.

Are You a Good Candidate for LASIK Surgery?

To be eligible for LASIK, you have to be at least 18 years of age and in good health. Pregnancy and LASIK also don't go together. This is because your vision can change when you're pregnant. This occurs due to the changing hormones released during pregnancy. It would be best to wait to have LASIK until you're sure you won't be having any more kids. 

Also, you can't have this refractive surgery while you're breastfeeding. Besides the vision changes associated with this period, you'd also want to protect your baby's health. Your surgeon will need you to use antibiotics as well as anti-inflammatory eye drops when you get LASIK. You might pass on any chemicals from these drops when you take them while you're nursing your baby. Some medications for certain diseases can also interfere with your healing process. For example, immunosuppressive drugs can weaken your immune response. This raises your risk of complications following surgery. Your surgeon needs to take this into account before they start your treatment.

For LASIK surgery to become a viable option for you, your eyes have to be healthy. Issues like dry eye disease can affect your recovery. You have to consider this before undergoing any surgical changes. Equally important is the stability of your vision. Your prescription should have stayed the same for at least a year before your surgeon can perform LASIK.


If there are any changes, it should only be minimal, like half a diopter or even less. If your prescription continues to change, the results of your LASIK surgery will not be accurate. Keep in mind that the operation will only correct the refractive error you have at the time of your surgery. 

 

To find out if you should get a LASIK evaluation, contact Eye Associates of New York in New York, New York at (212) 650-4888 for a consultation today!