The 5 Most Likely Reasons Someone Won’t Qualify For LASIK
April 15th, 2020
To ensure that LASIK remains one of the safest procedures, you need to meet strict requirements as a candidate. These qualifications reduce the likelihood of developing complications after surgery.
They also help make your recovery as quick and easy as possible. Keep reading for 5 of the most likely reasons someone won’t qualify for LASIK!
1. Unstable Vision
To get LASIK, your vision must remain unchanged for at least a year. This means that if you have unstable vision, at least for right now, LASIK is not right for you.
The FDA requires anyone seeking LASIK to be over the age of 18 to be eligible. This is due to the fact that your vision is still changing when you’re young.
Up until your twenties, your eyes are still developing. If you were to get surgery while your eyes were still growing, then the results could be short-lived.
This is why many doctors recommend that you wait until you are in your mid-twenties before considering LASIK. Until this time, eyesight can continue to change.
Pregnancy or anything that affects your hormones may result in temporary or permanent vision changes. You will need to wait if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant before the surgery.
2. Unresolved Vision Problems
Our eyes may encounter more problems than simple refractive errors. Dry eye is a common condition that may not seem serious but can prevent you from being eligible for LASIK.
Scarring from a previous eye injury or surgery can impede the surgeon’s ability to perform the operation safely. Other eye diseases that affect the cornea or infections must be resolved before you can get LASIK.
In some cases, you may find that because of eye diseases or another procedure, you cannot get LASIK. If this occurs, you may be a better candidate for a procedure like PRK.
3. Health Concerns
The health of your eyes is not the only thing that matters for your LASIK candidacy. You must be in good health, as you will need every advantage to help you recover from LASIK quickly and safely.
Autoimmune disorders or diseases that make it harder for your body to heal will disqualify you from LASIK. This includes anything that could affect your ability to heal like diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Being able to heal in an efficient manner is necessary for any patient that gets LASIK. For more information, contact Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL.
4. Corneal Thickness
Your cornea is a very thin covering of tissue, and the thickness can be measured in fractions of a millimeter. But LASIK surgeons deal in precision, so having enough tissue to work with makes a difference.
If you are someone that has abnormally thin corneas, you may have to accept an alternate surgery, such as PRK. During LASIK, a tiny amount of corneal tissue will be removed.
If your corneas are thin, removing tissue from the cornea could cause complications.
5. Unrealistic Expectations
LASIK is an amazing procedure that has improved the vision of millions of people all over the world. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone.
Even if you are eligible, it isn’t a guarantee of perfect vision, and it does come with some risks. After all, it is a surgery.
With a success rate of over 97%, the odds of you leaving the clinic satisfied is better than ever. If you don’t have realistic expectations before LASIK, you may not be a good candidate for the procedure.
Think LASIK sounds like the right procedure for you? Schedule a LASIK consultation at the Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL today!
What do you have to lose by scheduling a consultation that could lead to clear vision and visual freedom?
