Are you planning to see a surgeon for laser eye surgery? I am glad to tell you that you have made a perfect choice. Laser eye surgery provides a lasting solution for every eye problem. It is safe, quick, and painless.
Having heard about the wonders of laser eye surgery, you might want to consider going for it to solve your eye issues and get a better vision that can last for a lifetime. That is what I will also recommend as a surgeon. However, not everyone can enroll for laser eye surgery.
Does that sound surprising? Absolutely yes. It is not that LASIK can’t work for everybody, but some scientific factors say it is not ideal for everyone if we want to maximize safety and effectiveness.
Hence, you need to be sure you are eligible for laser eye surgery before you pay. Specific criteria can qualify you for LASIK, many of which involve fixing pre-existing visual problems.
To help you know your stand, here are the five primary criteria that can qualify you for laser eye surgery.
1. You must be at least 18 years old
You shouldn’t go for any major surgery if you are not an adult. One of the reasons is that you need to make the decision yourself. Before the surgeon begins the procedure, he will ask to know your age and seek your consent as an adult before he proceeds.
Aside from that, an adult’s body has a more potent chemical composition that can withstand the practices involved in laser eyes surgery.
Since LASIK is considered for adults, many teenage patients end up waiting until they turn eighteen to be eligible for the procedure. The truth is, the hormones of a teenager can affect their prescription. Once you turn eighteen, your hormones will relax, making you a stable prescription that takes us to the next point.
Since LASIK is considered for adults, many teenage patients end up waiting until they turn eighteen to be eligible for the procedure. The truth is, the hormones of a teenager can affect their prescription. Once you turn eighteen, your hormones will relax, making you a stable prescription that takes us to the next point. However, it’s important to consider the financial aspect as well, including SMSF setup costs.
2. You must have a stable prescription
You need to be in the correct state of mind, and your body must be prepared before you can have laser eye surgery. Otherwise, you might not have the desired result when the surgery is over. Besides, when your prescription is not stable, it might oppose a further threat to your eyes or cause itching or irritation after the surgery.
If you don’t have a stable prescription, laser eye surgery may be ineffective after all. Corrects the eyes by reshaping the cornea. You will have to be sure your prescription is not fluctuating for LASIK to achieve its goal. Learn more about Corneal reshaping at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16900034/
If your prescription fluctuates before laser eye surgery, there is a high tendency that it will fluctuate even after the surgeon has worked on it for hours. It is a permanent change.
From a veteran perspective, it is not ideal for getting laser eye surgery when your vision is not stable. Instead, you will wait until your vision stabilizes for the best results.
3. You must not be breastfeeding or pregnant
Pregnant women are not eligible for laser eye surgery. It is a verdict in the medical world. Even if the doctor tells you that your cornea has been damaged beyond a severe level while pregnant, you will have to wait until you are delivered of the baby before you attempt the surgery.
Pregnancy hormones can cause a pregnant woman’s vision to change suddenly without giving any notice or warning signs. Undergoing laser eye surgery is neither good for the mother’s health nor that of the unborn child. Hence, you need to wait until the baby is born.
More so, after you have borne the baby, you will still have to hold on till you stop breastfeeding the baby. This might not be good news for women, but it is essential to maximize safety and effectiveness.
Before you get laser eye surgery, the surgeon will have to give you prescription eye drops to prevent your eyes from inflammation and infection during the procedure if you are a nursing mother. You can pass this medication to your baby through breastfeeding.
4. You must be ready to abide by the surgeon’s instructions
For the actual laser eye surgery, it takes only a few minutes to finish. However, you don’t get the expected result at the instant. Usually, it takes several weeks (sometimes even months) for patients to fully recover from the effects of the surgery and a clearer vision they have always desired.
Meanwhile, the recovery process is easy and requires no severe medication. All you have to do is ensure you follow all the professional instructions your surgeon gives you per time.
During the recovery process, you will have to be careful of everything you do, including the food you eat, the areas you go to, and the activities you do daily, as they play an essential role in how quickly your site will recover. Click here to read about 6 Essential Questions You Need To Ask Before Going for Laser Eye Surgery.
In the same vein, there are certain things you need to do while you are waiting for your eyes to recover to their initial high functioning condition fully. During this period, you need to:
- Visit the surgeon from time to time for follow-up visits to check your recovery progress.
- Avoid every strenuous activity that can harm your eyes or delay the healing process. These activities include exercising or participating in sports, driving, swimming, apply to makeup to your face, exposing your eyes to UV rays from sunlight, and more.
- Prevent water from touching your eyes even when bathing.
Note that you need to stop wearing contact lens at least two weeks before the surgery takes place.
5. Your eyes must be in perfect health
Your eyes must be in a good state before you approach a laser eye surgery center. Any traces of eye injuries and diseases will disqualify you from getting LASIK. For that reason, you might to first treat your eyes to make sure it is in a better state before your surgeon can approve you for the surgery.
Final Words
Laser eye surgery provides a permanent solution to every eye problem, but not everyone can benefit from the procedure. To be qualified for a LASIK, you must meet the requirements listed above and make sure you have an intensive discussion with your surgeon before you proceed.
