At this point, most people are familiar with LASIK surgery. And most people have considered LASIK at some point and wondered if it is right for them.
“Will it hurt? Can I even afford it? Is it worth the risks involved?” These may be just some of the questions that you have asked yourself.
And truthfully, not every patient will be a good candidate for LASIK. But LASIK has improved the vision of millions of people worldwide so it is worthwhile to take the time to find out.
Let’s look at five ways you can determine if you might be a good candidate for LASIK:
- Consider your health history
In order to be a good candidate for LASIK, you need to be in fairly good health overall and be free of any common eye diseases. If you suffer from cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, or certain autoimmune diseases you may not be a good candidate for LASIK.
- Are you willing to accept the (minimal) risks involved?
Over 95 percent of patients are happy with the results of their LASIK surgery. But like all medical procedures, LASIK does come with some risks and minimal complications have been reported in one to two percent of all LASIK cases.
- Are you ready to take responsibility for your pre and post-op care?
When you decide to have LASIK surgery you will be taking on certain responsibilities that you will need to be willing to follow through on. You may be required to stop wearing your contacts for a certain period of time before the surgery. And you will need to arrange transportation for after the surgery is over.
And of course, you will need to maintain a schedule of follow-up appointments with your doctor so they can continue to monitor your vision.
- Schedule a LASIK consultation with your ophthalmologist
Of course, the best way to know if you are a good candidate for LASIK or not is by scheduling a LASIK consultation with your ophthalmologist. Your doctor will examine you and do a thorough overview of your health history. Together, you can determine whether or not LASIK surgery is the best choice of treatment for you.
