A simple prescription for eyeglasses or contacts is already enough to correct vision problems such as myopia, presbyopia and astigmatism for most people. Corrective eyewear, however, are only temporary and constantly need upgrading every few months or year. For some people with very high prescriptions, or those who want a more permanent solution to blurry eyesight, LASIK treatments are recommended.
However, LASIK is not for everybody. Here’s a short
checklist to help you determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the
procedure or not:
Age: Most ophthalmologists require their patient to be 18 years old and above to be an eligible candidate for LASIK. At this time, your eyes would have fully matured and have a more stable prescription.
Overall health: You should be in generally good health, meaning that you are not diagnosed with any conditions that may be worsened by LASIK surgery, or impede healing after LASIK. Such disorders include diabetes, and vascular and autoimmune illnesses.
Eye health: Similarly, you should not have chronic eye problems that can affect the results of LASIK surgery, as well as influence healing time and full recovery. Alternative options for LASIK are usually recommended for those with severe dry eyes, glaucoma, keratoconus, strabismus and lazy eye.
Stable vision: It is recommended that you first have a stable eye prescription for one whole year before undergoing LASIK treatments.
Corneal thickness: Likewise, you should have a corneal thickness of not less than 0.5mm to qualify as a candidate for LASIK surgery.
If you meet all the requirements above, then you have a higher chance of getting a go-signal to have LASIK treatments. To be 100% sure, however, you’re still recommended to visit the right ophthalmologist for further testing to determine not only your eligibility, but also how to ensure the procedure’s success.
Age: Most ophthalmologists require their patient to be 18 years old and above to be an eligible candidate for LASIK. At this time, your eyes would have fully matured and have a more stable prescription.
Overall health: You should be in generally good health, meaning that you are not diagnosed with any conditions that may be worsened by LASIK surgery, or impede healing after LASIK. Such disorders include diabetes, and vascular and autoimmune illnesses.
Eye health: Similarly, you should not have chronic eye problems that can affect the results of LASIK surgery, as well as influence healing time and full recovery. Alternative options for LASIK are usually recommended for those with severe dry eyes, glaucoma, keratoconus, strabismus and lazy eye.
Stable vision: It is recommended that you first have a stable eye prescription for one whole year before undergoing LASIK treatments.
Corneal thickness: Likewise, you should have a corneal thickness of not less than 0.5mm to qualify as a candidate for LASIK surgery.
If you meet all the requirements above, then you have a higher chance of getting a go-signal to have LASIK treatments. To be 100% sure, however, you’re still recommended to visit the right ophthalmologist for further testing to determine not only your eligibility, but also how to ensure the procedure’s success.
Dr. Steve Seah is a sought-after senior consultant ophthalmologist in Singapore specializing in LASIK treatments and other laser-assisted procedures to manage eye disorders such as cataracts and glaucoma. Schedule an appointment with him today at 6565-6888.
