Lasik Eye Surgery: Are You a Candidate?

Lasik eye surgery has been successfully performed on millions of eyes. This year alone, more than 2 million people are expected to undergo Lasik eye surgery. Don’t get too comfortable with those figures though because long-term effects will not be known for some time yet.

Although you’re sitting in a chair in a doctor’s office and conscious, Lasik eye surgery is surgery and as such, there are risks and complications to consider. In fact, not everyone is a candidate for Lasik. After you’ve been evaluated by your doctor, get a second opinion if he tells you that you are not a candidate for Lasik. If the next doctor tells you the same thing, take him seriously!

Who wouldn’t be a candidate for Lasik eye surgery? Obviously, if you’re not in good overall health, it wouldn’t be wise to sign up for any elective surgery. Diabetics, it is generally thought, would not be good candidates for Lasik eye surgery. If you’re pregnant or nursing, this is something you’ll want to put on hold.

You must be at least 18 years old and have had a steady prescription for glasses or contacts for at least the previous 2 years. In addition, your cornea, the part of the eye that is cut to make a flap so that the laser can then remove corneal tissue, needs to be a certain thickness in order for the flap to be successfully cut. If an eye doctor tells you that your cornea is too thin for Lasik eye surgery, listen to him because it could cause irreversible damage to the cornea if that small incision doesn’t go right.

Make absolutely certain you disclose all of the medications you are taking to your eye surgeon.
Finally, although not many, there are a few occupations that will pass you by if you have Lasik eye surgery. Certain jobs within the armed forces, pilots, and some jobs that require frequent immersion in water are some examples where this could be a problem. Even if you’re not currently affiliated with one of these jobs, you’ll want to think of your future.

Your vision will certainly be blurry for at least a day or two after your surgery. Some complications that can arise include continued blurry vision, halos around light and glare. You may have difficulty driving at night for some time. It could take several months for your vision to stabilize. At first, you can expect some burning, itching, and even a little pain.

Your doctor will give you some guidelines to adhere to after surgery. Follow these carefully. Don’t wear eye make-up until it is safe to do so. If you have severe pain, however, contact your doctor immediately.

As with any medical procedure, approach this with your eyes wide open, ask a lot of questions and then you will be equipped to make an informed decision about whether or not Lasik eye surgery is right for you.