Posted on: 08/8/22

Lasik Surgery

Does the idea of achieving visual freedom from glasses and contact lenses excite you? This could be your new reality if you find out you’re a good LASIK candidate! 

LASIK is life-changing. This minimally invasive vision correction procedure can give you and your sight fuller opportunities for living. Keep reading to learn about some of the factors for a good LASIK candidate!

You’re at least 18 years old

Your eyes change and grow throughout childhood. As LASIK is a permanent procedure, it isn’t recommended until your eyes reach maturity. 

Although the FDA has approved LASIK for adults 18 and over, your eye doctor will determine whether your vision has stabilized enough for LASIK during your consultation. Depending on the patient, sometimes LASIK is not advised until the mid-20s.

You have a stable prescription

If your eyes are still changing, this is not the right time to have LASIK. One of the critical factors for LASIK candidacy is having a stable prescription that’s remained unchanged for a year or more.

If your vision is still changing, the best thing you can do is wait for your prescription to stabilize. A stable prescription is the only way to ensure you’ll get the best possible results. Waiting is worth it when it comes to achieving better vision! 

You’re not currently pregnant or nursing

Pregnancy is a time of many changes in your body due to shifts in your hormone levels. Many pregnant women find their sight becomes blurry. 

This continues through pregnancy and afterward if you’re nursing. A general rule of thumb is to wait 3-6 months after giving birth. If you’re nursing, it’s best to have LASIK once you’re done, and your eyes are no longer changing. 

Your refractive errors are within the treatable range

LASIK works best for patients with refractive errors within an intermediate range. Your eye doctor can discuss whether your refractive errors fall within the treatment limits of what LASIK can successfully correct. 

You have corneas that are thick enough

LASIK is a laser vision correction procedure that creates a flap in the cornea of your eye and then reshapes it to improve your vision. For patients with corneas of standard thickness, getting LASIK is safe and effective. 

But if you have thin corneas, this may make LASIK unsafe to undergo. If your corneas are too thin, you may be a better candidate for a procedure like PRK, which doesn’t create a flap in the cornea. 

You have healthy eyes

Another crucial component of LASIK is having healthy eyes. If your eyes aren’t healthy, healing from the procedure can be more challenging. Patients with a history of cataracts, chronic dry eye, or large pupils aren’t good candidates for LASIK.

You’re in good health

Being healthy is essential for healing after LASIK. LASIK isn’t advised if you have an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or HIV. If you take an immunosuppressive medication or have diabetes that isn’t well-managed, you would not be a good candidate.

You have realistic expectations

LASIK can free you from wearing prescription glasses and contacts, but there’s no guarantee of better vision. Every patient is different, and so are their LASIK results. 

Being realistic about your potential outcome is important. You may still have slightly blurry vision in dim light, or your refractive error may slowly change, with your post-LASIK sharp sight softening over the years. 

Even if you get LASIK, it can’t treat future age-related eye conditions like presbyopia and cataracts. But what you can look forward to is decades of clearer vision! 

Do you think you may be a good LASIK candidate? Find out by scheduling your LASIK consultation at Cutarelli Vision in Denver, CO, now!