Do you
Qualify for Laser Eye
Surgery?
Laser eye surgery is a great
option for most people. This type of procedure is considered
to be generally safe as the incidents of side effects
occurring are low. But there are certain conditions that
might prevent a person from being able to undergo the
surgery or at the very least delay it. The best way to find
out if you qualify is to visit a refractive eye surgeon so
that he could give you a series of tests and to help you
choose which of the many types of refractive surgery
available is most suitable for you.
The best possible candidates
to undergo laser eye surgery share some common
characteristics. You are a good candidate to undergo the
procedure if you have mild myopia (nearsightedness), or mild hyperopia
(farsightedness) as well as
astigmatism. Laser eye surgery cannot be used to improve presbyopia which is age related as well as other related
conditions. It is also good to set your expectations at a
realistic level as well as to have a thorough understanding
of everything that comes with the procedure including both
benefits and risks involved.
People with existing eye
diseases like glaucoma or people who have had eye infections
within the past few years prior to the surgery are not good
candidates. There are also health problems which can affect
your qualifications. The examples are autoimmune diseases (which
include Lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome),
herpes of the eyes, histories of eye injury as well as dry
eyes. If you had your contact lens or
eyeglass prescription within a year prior to the laser eye
surgery procedure, you may not be able to undergo it as well.
Your cornea’s thickness and
your pupil size are other factors
that are very crucial in determining if you are a good
candidate to
undergo the procedure. Your ophthalmologist will thoroughly measure
these two before deciding if you are qualified. As laser
eye surgery involves slicing a part of your cornea to
reshape it, it is crucial for it not to be thin. People with thin corneas have a higher risk of acquiring certain
complications after the surgery. If your
pupils are too large, you might risk suffering from the side
effects such as the visual symptoms of glare and haloing.
This is why it is important to know the size your pupils
dilate to in the dark.
Your age is another factor in
deciding if you are qualified for the treatment. If you are below 18
years old, you would have to wait
until you’re 18 or older before getting laser eye surgery.
If you are nursing or pregnant you would also have to wait
before getting a procedure. But the best way to determine,
accurately, whether you’re a qualifying candidate for laser
surgery is to visit your doctor. He or she can give
you some tests and help you to decide if laser eye surgery is
the right thing for you and which type is more suitable for
you.
