Characteristics of a good candidate for lasik vision correction
Lasik vision correction is a fairly new procedure that is aimed at helping patients get past dependency on eyeglasses and contact lenses. The process of getting lasik actually involves a few steps. The first step is getting evaluated to see if you are a good candidate for the surgery. Lasik is not a miracle solution and for some people it will not help them and could possibly be harmful to them. Lasik is surgery, so determining if you are a good candidate is essential.
There are a variety of things a doctor will look at to determine if you are a good candidate for lasik vision correction. During your first visit your doctor will do a full exam of your eye. This involves taking measurements of your cornea. The cornea is the clear lenses of the eye that is altered during lasik surgery. If you have any eye disease or problem your doctor may deem you unqualified for lasik. The reason for this is that lasik can only reshape the cornea so that the images it picks up are not blurred or distorted anymore. Eye problems like glaucoma, uveitis, keratinous or eye injuries will affect your ability to get lasik. Conditions like dry eyes can be further aggravated by lasik and your doctor may advise you to fix your dry eye problem before surgery. Thin corneas are another major concern. Lasik cuts the cornea and having a thin cornea already puts you at greater risk of complications.
Besides eye problems your doctor will also talk to you about medications you are taking and other health conditions you may have. If you are taking any medication that will affect your ability to heal you may be told lasik is not for you. Also any medications that affect your hormones will affect your ability to get lasik. When hormones fluctuate it can affect your eyes. This also included pregnant or nursing mothers as their hormones are not stable. You may also not qualify if your vision changes frequently. It is recommended that you have no vision changes within the past two years.
Other things that will affect your ability to qualify for lasik surgery include your lifestyle, personal details and financial situation. Your doctor may want to talk to you about certain things that make no sense. He or she may ask if you play contact sports, are a risk taker or what you do for a living. These are actually very applicable to determining if you are a good lasik candidate. If you play contact sports you will have to give them up for a period of time to allow your eye to heal properly. If you are not a risk taker than lasik may not be for you. Lasik holds no guarantees and if you are a person that needs to know exact details about what the results will be then lasik is not your answer. Lasik has only been practiced since 1998; so long term results are unknown. Cost is also a big concern when it comes to lasik vision correction. Most insurance companies do not cover the cost, so you must know how you pay for the surgery. Your job is a concern because in some cases getting lasik can jeopardize it. Talk to your employer before making your decision if you are concerned about this. After speaking with your doctor you should have a clear idea if you make a good lasik candidate.
Some problems you could have by receiving lasik if you are not a good candidate include worsened vision, vision problems like halos and starbursts, and infection. It is also possible that you could just not get any results, which would be a waste of money. You should feel completely comfortable with the decision also. Making sure you are a good candidate should be one of the first steps you take when considering lasik vision correction.
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