LASIK is a popular laser surgery procedure for correcting vision problems, but it's not suitable for everyone. People who want to undergo LASIK surgery should know the criteria that make a person suitable for this type of surgery and carefully select their doctor based on experience and not on cost. In general, potential candidates for LASIK must be at least 21 years old and have a stable prescription that hasn't changed for at least two consecutive years. It's important that the eyes are generally healthy and free from diseases, injuries, and infections.
Your eye doctor can design a LASIK vision correction treatment plan that fits your unique eyes, lifestyle, and visual goals. Traditional LASIK uses a mechanical blade, while LASIK procedures performed exclusively with lasers use a device called a laser keratoma. The eye surgeon will consider several aspects of the patient's health and lifestyle to determine if LASIK surgery is right for him. Before a LASIK procedure, the eye doctor will evaluate detailed eye measurements and evaluate the overall health of the eye.
The ability to throw away those bulky eyeglasses and uncomfortable contact lenses is an attractive incentive for most LASIK patients. However, even with standard LASIK, the risk of eye rupture is still very low, so there's probably no significant advantage with PRK. The same research also found that LASIK eye surgery significantly reduced the rate of common side effects in people who wear contact lenses, such as eye infections, ulcers and abrasions. If your eye doctor determines that you are not a good candidate for LASIK surgery today, you may continue to be a good candidate in the future.
It's important to note that LASIK may not be able to treat presbyopia, a refractive error due to old age that causes many people to use reading glasses to correct it. We'll tell you why LASIK surgery is or isn't right for you, and about the benefits and risks associated with this type of surgery.
