There are multiple factors that should be examined when determining if you are a good candidate for LASIK. It isn’t just something that we (or you or your optometrist) can guess at. Some folks spend years researching the procedure, only to find that they were never a candidate in the first place. That can be a major disappointment. This is why we insist on performing the most comprehensive consultation before we’ll approve anyone for LASIK at Waco Custom LASIK & Cataract Center.



Here is what we will examine during your consultation:



• Darkness of your cornea and overall health of your eyes
• Overall Eye Health
• General Physical Health
• Age and Lifestyle

 

Corneal thickness 

 

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Corneal thickness is a major factor. LASIK surgery requires enough thickness of the cornea to maintain strength and shape. If your cornea is too thin, it may result in complications. This was a significant factor in the use of earlier technologies and is why some people were not considered good candidates. However, advances in technology have made LASIK possible for many of these patients today. The only way to measure the thickness of the cornea is during a thorough consultation.



Overall Eye Health



Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea and if you have it, LASIK would not be right for you. People are sometimes told they have Keratoconus when they have something else that would not be a problem for LASIK. That’s why we always double check any previous diagnosis.



Cataracts are a clouding or opacity of the natural lens inside the eye. They don’t necessarily keep you from having LASIK; it just depends on their type and location. Again we always check for cataracts at our free consultation.



General Physical Health



Some physical illnesses or conditions can rule out LASIK.



Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Fibromyalgia (FMS) can indicate a compromised autoimmune system, which might complicate the healing process. Osteoarthritis or age-related arthritis is not a problem as far as LASIK is concerned. If you have any questions about which type of arthritis you have, give us a call and we will help you sort it out.



Diabetes can rule out LASIK, as unstable blood sugar levels effect the precise measurements necessary for the procedure. Also, diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy that may compromise vision due to changes in the retina. This too may be a LASIK contraindication. We’ll help you establish whether or not diabetes is an issue at the consultation.



Pregnancy for some women can cause temporary changes in their eyes. For that reason, we normally do not perform LASIK during pregnancy as we want to make sure we are treating the person’s real prescription and not a temporary change; this is decided at our doctors’ discretion. We can usually treat new mothers as soon as 6 weeks post-partum and there is no need to wait until after nursing is completed.



Some medications cause an unacceptably high risk of complications.



• Amiodarone, a medication used to control irregular heart rhythms
• Methotrexate, used for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can interfere with healing

Before you decide you are not a candidate due to any of the above, call us first and let us help you verify the facts.



Age and Lifestyle



The best LASIK candidate is generally between the ages of 18 and 60. Many people under the age of 18 have not finished growing and so their vision may not have stabilized. People over age 60 are not ruled out for LASIK but are more likely to have other eye problems such as cataracts or presbyopia. Treatments for those problems are available and can often achieve many of the same results as LASIK.

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What if LASIK is NOT right for me?



This would have to be due to corneal structure, a vision health factor, or overall health. Don’t be too disheartened because there are alternatives to LASIK such as:



• PRK – treats the cornea without the need for a flap
• Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)– for nearsightedness that is too severe for LASIK or PRK
• Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) – for farsighted patients over the age of 40

Dr. Walters may recommend and provide these options for you.

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To find out conclusively whether or not LASIK is right for you, schedule your free LASIK Consultation. To learn if you might be a LASIK candidate, take our LASIK Self-Evaluation.