LASIK Candidate Qualifications
You may be a suitable candidate for LASIK if you:
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism
- Have not experienced any significant changes in your vision prescription in the past six months to a year
- Are in good health and do not have any uncontrolled medical problems like diabetes or an autoimmune disease
- Do not have any active eye infections or diseases like cataracts, glaucoma or dry eye
To determine whether you meet the qualifications for LASIK patients, please schedule a consultation with the team at Eye Care of San Diego. During your appointment, we will examine your eyes, discuss your visual needs and goals and recommend whether LASIK or another procedure is the best solution for you. Consultations are often complimentary.
What Does LASIK Involve?
LASIK reshapes the curvature of the cornea, or the clear covering of the eye, so it can properly bend (refract) light onto the retina at the back of the eye. This improves the eye’s focusing power and reduces or eliminates dependence on corrective eyewear.
Treatment Details
There are several types of LASIK surgery, with variations in both technique and technology. All LASIK procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, and the eyes are completely numbed to prevent any discomfort.
The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to create a hinged flap on the eye’s surface. After folding the flap back, the surgeon uses an excimer laser to remove microscopic bits of underlying tissue and improve the shape of the cornea. Once the cornea has been properly shaped, the flap is restored to its original position over the eye, where it heals on its own.
The entire procedure takes about 15 minutes to complete. Afterward, the eyes may feel slightly irritated or watery, and vision may be blurry. Most patients nap or rest for the remainder of the day and notice sharper, clearer vision the next day.
Advances in LASIK Technology
Several breakthrough technologies have helped to refine the precision and outcomes of LASIK surgery, while minimizing some of the risks.
All-laser (or “blade-free) LASIK involves using a computer-controlled femtosecond laser to create the hinged corneal flap at the beginning of the procedure. Not only does this eliminate the risk of human error, it also allows us to create more precise flaps that conform to your eye’s unique anatomy and that can “lock” back in place at the end of the procedure.
Wavefront technology allows us to identify and map out the unique imperfections of your eye prior to surgery, so we can customize the treatment plan to those defects. With Wavefront-guided LASIK, we can achieve better outcomes than ever before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More about Your LASIK Options
If you have any questions about LASIK, our team is happy to discuss these treatment options during an in-person consultation. Please contact us today to request an appointment.
