How to Know if You Are Ready to Get Lasik
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Lasik surgery is a life-altering procedure for people who are tired of dealing with compromised vision. However, not everyone is able to get Lasik, and it’s important to know if you are before embarking on the surgery.
Your Vision is Stable
Your vision is obviously compromised or you wouldn’t be considering Lasik. However, even compromised vision needs to demonstrate a certain amount of stability before you qualify for Lasik. Most eye professionals want evidence that your vision has been stable for at least a year before they will schedule the procedure. Depending on your unique circumstances, that time could be longer. Stability simply means your prescription hasn’t needed to be changed. Going in with stable vision means you have a better chance of Lasik working for you long term. Vision that is still fluctuating often means you need to wait a bit longer before undergoing Lasik. Ask your Las Vegas Lasik doctor to see if you would be ready for this step.
You’re Over Glasses and Contacts
While those of us with compromised vision may be grateful for glasses and contacts, we can also grow tired of them. Glasses can make playing sports or other physical feats more difficult because they get in the way. They also fog up in certain circumstances. Contacts are less cumbersome, but they can cause your eyes to feel dry or irritated. Wearing contacts means taking care of them every day and night, and many people just want to be able to take a nap without removing their contacts first. If you are truly tired of dealing with corrective lenses of any kind, you may be ready for Lasik. Lasik can offer you the opportunity to see without any type of lens getting in your way.
You Aren’t Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Vision changes when a person is pregnant, so it’s best to get Lasik when you are past pregnancy. This gives you the best chance of having your vision corrected without needing follow up procedures when it changes due to hormones. It’s also not a good idea to get Lasik right before you know you are going to try to conceive. For moms who nurse, it’s necessary to wait until you are finished nursing completely. Most surgeons want moms to have their little ones weaned for at least three months so they can get a true idea of their vision. If you just gave birth or know you are going to try to get pregnant soon, it’s best to wait on Lasik. You could end up going through the procedure and needing it redone later because hormone changes threw a wrench into things.
You Are the Right Age
Age isn’t just a number when it comes to Lasik. Patients must be at least 18 years old before they qualify for the surgery, but that doesn’t make 18 the ideal age. Doctors often encourage young people to wait a few years to ensure their vision is stable. There’s no cutoff age when it comes to having Lasik. However, eye issues that many people experience later in life may prohibit them from being a good candidate for the procedure. Cataracts often affect people who are 55 and older. Though cataracts don’t completely disqualify a person from Lasik surgery, it could be a factor since the cataracts are the priority issue that has to be dealt with first.
You Have Been Cleared by a Doctor
There are certain medical conditions that must be considered before a patient is cleared for Lasik. If you have dry eyes, diabetes, lupus, or certain types of arthritis, you need to talk to your doctor before you plan to have your vision corrected. Doctors who perform Lasik want to take on patients who are the most likely to have a good experience and recover well. If that’s not you, it’s not worth the risk.
Conclusion
Your eye doctor also needs to clear you before you even think about getting Lasik. Some of us are not good candidates because of the specific vision problems we have. Your ophthalmologist needs to screen you for all eye issues and let you know if you should seek surgical eye treatment. Even good candidates don’t always come out with perfect vision, so it’s best to keep expectations in check. If you are a good candidate, Lasik can help you see better. Find out if you are ready for Lasik to improve your vision and your life.
