Am I a LASIK Candidate?
April 13, 2020

Am I a LASIK Candidate?

If you’re tired of the hassles associated with wearing glasses and contact lenses, LASIK may be right for you. This popular laser vision correction procedure can restore clear vision for individuals with refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The vast majority of our LASIK patients are able to eliminate the need for glasses and contacts after their procedure.

At Northeastern Eye Institute, we understand that these are difficult times for a lot of people. It can be challenging to plan ahead when we’re all stuck at home practicing social distancing. However, this is the perfect time to think about ways to improve your health and quality of life. For many people, getting LASIK has offered significant quality of life benefits.

Criteria for LASIK Candidacy

It’s important to understand that LASIK isn’t right for everyone. Before moving forward with your procedure, our ophthalmologists will evaluate your eyes to ensure this is the right treatment plan for you. If not, we will recommend the LASIK alternative that will provide the best solution for your unique situation.

LASIK may be the right option for you if you meet the following criteria:

  • Age – You must be over the age of 18 to undergo LASIK.
     
  • Eye health – Certain eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, corneal disease, keratoconus or certain retinal conditions may indicate LASIK isn’t right for you. Other issues, such as conjunctivitis, infection or eye injuries, must be treated before you can move forward with LASIK.
     
  • Pupil size – Very large pupils can increase your risk of LASIK complications such as glare, halos and starbursts.
     
  • Corneal thickness – If you lack sufficient corneal thickness to accommodate the creation of a LASIK flap, then you may need to consider alternative treatments.
     
  • Stable vision – Your vision prescription must be consistent for at least one year.
     
  • Severity of refractive errors – LASIK doesn’t always achieve predictable outcomes for individuals with very severe refractive errors. In these situations, you may benefit more from an alternative treatment.
     
  • Dry eyes – While dry eye syndrome won’t necessarily prevent you from getting LASIK, you will need to treat the condition before moving forward with your procedure.
     
  • Pregnancy – Women who are pregnant must wait until after giving birth to undergo LASIK.

Contact our Northeastern Pennsylvania LASIK Surgeons

Please contact Northeastern Eye Institute using the form on this page or call 855-204-6888 today to schedule a free LASIK consultation. We have 15 offices conveniently located in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.