LASIK is a procedure best suited for eye patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. While LASIK can be a great alternative to corrective lenses, it is not right for everyone. LASIK can eliminate or reduce your dependency on glasses and contacts if you meet the criteria for surgery. Before the procedure, your Washington DC LASIK surgeon will assess your corneal thickness and topography, to ensure the procedure is physically safe for your vision. Prior to this, however, you and your doctor should answer these questions, to learn if you are a potential candidate:
- Are you old enough? In the United States, LASIK candidates must be at least eighteen years of age.
- Is your vision stable? Because our vision changes over time, your Washington DC LASIK surgeon will wish to know that your eyesight has been stable for at least one year prior to surgery.
- Are you in good health? Health conditions and medications can affect the outcome of your surgery and risk for infection. LASIK candidates should not have health conditions such as autoimmune or collagen vascular disease of uncontrolled diabetes.
- Do you have any eye injuries or conditions? Dry eye, optic nerve diseases and herpes simplex are all conditions that can affect your candidacy for LASIK in Washington DC. Scarring from previous surgery, lazy eye, and muscular conditions can also affect your recovery, as can certain mental health conditions. These will not necessarily eliminate you as a surgery candidate, but should be discussed with your doctor nonetheless.
- Are you pregnant or nursing? Hormone fluctuations during pregnancy and nursing can affect a woman’s vision prescription. Because LASIK requires vision stability prior to surgery, a woman should wait no less than three monthly cycles before undergoing laser vision correction.
- Do you wear contacts? Prior to receiving LASIK, you will have to go without contact lenses for a period, which your doctor will determine. Contact lenses may alter the shape of your cornea, and affect the cornea measurements for surgery, leading to imprecise vision correction.
Your Washington DC LASIK surgeon will happily discuss your candidacy, and all pre-operative requirements in depth. Our office will perform a thorough assessment, taking into account your overall health, eye health, and lifestyle to help you and your doctor make a careful decision. If you think LASIK surgery may be right for you, contact our LASIK offices in Washington DC, and put yourself on the path to clarity.
