Wearing contact lenses or glasses can get old really quickly. LASIK might offer you a chance of getting rid of your glasses for a while at least. It’s important to manage your expectations, though. The surgery will help correct vision problems, but it doesn’t mean you won’t ever need glasses again. It’s also essential to familiarize yourself with the do’s and don’t of LASIK eye surgery to ensure you’re fully prepared and know what to expect.
And, it bears remembering that not everyone is a good candidate. You need to be in fairly good health and have eyes that are also in good health. If you have very a mixture of astigmatism and far- or nearsightedness, it may not work as well for you.
There are a number of procedures that fall under the broad term of LASIK. Essentially, though, the surgeon will either:
- Change the cornea’s shape by removing a little of the tissue using a laser
- Or by making a flap in the cornea to raise it before the reshaping starts
- In certain cases, a lens may be implanted as well
There is a range of different techniques that may be used. Surgeons will usually specialize in one or the other. You can find more about them and the different techniques that they might use to put your mind at ease.
But, before you start discussing this surgery, let’s check if it is the right option for you.
How Healthy are Your Eyes?
If your eyes have a higher degree of refractive error, or you have a more unusual problem with your vision, the surgeon may advise against the surgery. Serious vision problems may lead to unforeseen complications.
Which is why you have to undergo a full examination to determine whether or not you are a suitable candidate. Your ophthalmologist will start by asking a series of questions. These will be aimed at establishing your eye’s health and whether your lifestyle would be a good fit after surgery.
For example, if you play a contact sport, during which you get a lot of knocks to your face, you might not be a good candidate.
They will then evaluate the health of your eyes. The ophthalmologist will start by checking for any symptoms of eye disease. They will also establish if your changes in vision are as a result of aging and check how advanced the problem is. Based on this interview and examination, the ophthalmologist will be able to tell if you are a good candidate for a procedure. They should be able to recommend you to a qualified eye surgeon if this is required, who will evaluate your options and discuss different solutions with you.
Your Overall Health
You don’t have to be in perfect health to undergo this procedure, but there are conditions that make the results less predictable. These could include:
- Immune disorders that make it difficult for your body to heal
- Conditions where you need an immunosuppressant
- Diabetes
- Some chronic pain conditions, like fibromyalgia, migraine, and so on
- Depression
How Stable is Your Vision?
As children and teens, our vision changes naturally over time. That is why LASIK is not considered for those under 18, however, you can always use your eyeglasses or contact lens from https://www.contactlenses.co.uk. Vision can also be affected by medication, pregnancy, etc. so you would need to let it settle before going under the knife.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Lasik is a useful procedure that can be of benefit to a lot of people. Having said that, not everyone is the right candidate. Speak to your ophthalmologist about whether or not this might be the right option for you.
