Do I Qualify for LASIK: Everything You Need to Know
For anyone who wears glasses or contact lenses, there are bound to be days when the inconveniences become a little too clear. It may be because you sat on a pair of glasses or perhaps left them at work or in a taxi, or maybe your contact lenses are causing irritation or dryness. But one thing is for sure, you will probably find yourself considering whether there is a better alternative.
Well, there just might be.
These days, it is likely you have met someone who has had Laser Eye Surgery, or at least knows someone who has. Whether it’s a neighbour who hasn’t stopped talking about how they were able to ditch their glasses or a coworker whose relative is overjoyed with their results
The treatment has become the most commonly performed elective procedure in the world – and for good reason. But how do you know if you will be eligible for treatment? Unfortunately, the fact is that not everybody is; thankfully, Laser Eye Surgery is becoming increasingly suitable for more people than ever before.
So, could you qualify for LASIK (or another Laser Eye Surgery procedure)?
Determining Your Suitability for LASIK
If you have inquired about Laser Eye Surgery in the past and have been told you are unsuitable, it can be easy to assume that this is still the case. However, a lot has changed in recent years, so it’s always worth checking to see what your options are. It’s important to remember that the only way to know for sure whether you could be suitable for Laser Eye Surgery is to attend a comprehensive screening appointment with a board-certified ophthalmologist.
During this consultation, the doctor will assess a number of things, including your prescription. However, several other criteria must be met before you are given the green light for treatment. So, let’s take a look at the five main factors, including your prescription, that are key to your suitability.
Is your prescription within the treatable range?
Your glasses prescription is one of the best places to start when determining your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery. Your prescription is measured in “dioptres” – a metric that indicates the strength of the lens needed to correct your refractive error. A minus measurement indicates short-sightedness (myopia) while a plus measurement denotes long-sightedness (hyperopia).
Typically, most clinics can treat patients with moderate to severe myopia up to about -8.0 D and hyperopia up to between +4 and +6 D.
That being said, not all clinics can treat the same range of prescriptions. This means that, while you may have been told that your prescription falls out of the treatable range at one clinic, this doesn’t always mean you are unsuitable for treatment everywhere.
For example, at London Vision Clinic, we specialise in treating very high prescriptions. In many cases, we are able to treat short-sightedness up to -12.0 D and long-sightedness up to +7.0 D!
As mentioned, these exact numbers depend on the clinic, including its technology and expertise, as well as the type of treatment.
Do you have a stable prescription and healthy eyes?
It isn’t just the severity of your prescription that can affect your suitability, but its stability, too. Having a stable prescription means that it hasn’t fluctuated significantly for a period of time (typically 12-24 months). Prescriptions can fluctuate for several reasons, including due to changing levels of hormones. This is one reason Laser Eye Surgery generally isn’t performed on people who are pregnant or breastfeeding and people under the age of 18.
After this age of “ocular maturity”, your prescription is much more likely to be stable. However, other factors can affect the stability of your prescription, including your overall general health and certain medications. The good news is that most of these are temporary and won’t rule you out from treatment in the future.
What are the shape and thickness of your corneas?
While glasses and contact lenses offer a temporary fix to your refractive error, Laser Eye Surgery makes permanent changes to the structure of your eyes. It works by using high-precision lasers to reshape the cornea. This changes the way light is directed into the eye, allowing it to be focused more effectively onto the retina.
In order to achieve this safely, your eyes must be able to accommodate these structural changes. If your corneas are too thin or misshapen, it may be difficult to remove the necessary amount of tissue to correct your refractive error. Your ophthalmologist will assess the shape and thickness of your corneas during your consultation to ensure treatment can be performed safely.
What is your pupil size?
The size of your pupils is another important consideration when determining your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery. If your pupils are naturally large, you could be at an increased risk of post-LASIK side effects such as night-time glare. This is because your pupils may dilate beyond the treatment area under low light conditions.
But don’t worry – not everyone with large pupils is automatically excluded from having LASIK treatment, particularly at clinics with access to the latest technology.
The only way to know for sure whether you could be suitable for Laser Eye Surgery treatment is to undergo a comprehensive screening process. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today!
