Are You A Fit For Laser Eye Surgery? What You Should Know In Advance

If you have struggled with eyesight problems for most of your life and would like to pursue surgery to correct your vision, you may be ready to talk with your eye doctor about the possibility of laser surgery. However, it's important to know what factors are considered when deciding if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery. Here are some of the things that you should know. 

Your Cornea

One of the first things that your eye doctor will consider is the condition of your cornea. The cornea must be thick enough to sustain the procedure safely. Those with a thin cornea are not ideal candidates for laser eye surgery.

Your Overall Eye Condition

In order to be considered a good candidate for laser eye surgery, your eyes need to be in good overall health. Patients with glaucoma and other similar conditions that affect the pressure in their eyes may be disqualified from surgery. Make sure your eye doctor assesses your overall eye health as part of determining your eligibility.

Your Current Vision Correction

Laser eye surgery can only correct vision problems within a certain range. If your prescription is out of that range, that's a key indication that you aren't a good candidate for laser surgery. You should talk with your optometrist about your prescription to see if your vision correction is within the acceptable range for this procedure.

Your Age

For teens who are thinking about laser eye surgery, you may find that your eye doctor suggests that you wait a couple of extra years before you actually have the procedure. That's because your vision condition won't stabilize until your early 20s in most cases. You'll want to wait to have the procedure after your vision prescription has remained consistent for a couple of years so that you don't run the risk of your vision worsening again right after surgery.

In addition, sometimes older patients are discouraged from considering laser eye surgery because of the risk of dry eye complications developing. If you're nearing or beyond retirement age, ask your eye doctor about the rationality of pursuing laser surgery.

These are some of the most important features that doctors will consider when trying to decide if you're an ideal candidate for laser eye surgery. If you want a procedure like this, talk with your local eye doctor about your concerns and whether or not you would be a good fit.


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