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| Home > Eye Specialists > Laser Vision Correction |
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AM I A laser
visioN
correction candidate? |
The
good laser vision correction candidate is:
- Over 18
- Vision stable
- Sufficient corneal thickness
- Nearsighted, farsighted, with or without astigmatism
- Out of contacts for two weeks, allowing the cornea to return to its natural
shape.
The
less-than-good candidate has:
- A history of dry eyes
- Certain diseases and/or medications that can slow healing
- Under 18
- Pregnant or nursing
- Too nearsighted or farsighted for current laser technology.
The
non-candidate has:
- Diseases such as cataracts, advanced glaucoma, thin corneal tissue, corneal diseases, or other physician-diagnosed eye diseases that jeopardize vision
- Refusal to give informed consent. Patients must discuss the risks and benefits of
laser vision correction with their eye surgeon and give appropriate consent
- Unrealistic expectations. Laser vision correction, like any surgical procedure, involves an element of risk. Outcomes and healing time are different for each person.
It's important to understand that laser vision correction cannot provide perfect vision every time for every patient. The goal of
laser vision correction is
to improve vision and reduce dependence on glasses.
Mostly, patients achieve legal driving vision, and many patients who have low to moderate nearsightedness can expect better. Retreatments, called enhancements, may be necessary to achieve better vision.
Some patients may experience glare and halos in dim light. Usually these resolve within a few months, but not always.
Patients who are over age forty will need to wear reading glasses. Laser vision
correction cannot stop the aging process in the eye, when people lose their ability to see close. One way to "fool Mother Nature" is to correct one eye for distance vision, and leave one eye a little nearsighted. This correction is called monovision, and can help some people with focusing better for close vision.
Laser vision correction is a surgical procedure with an element of risk. Risk is very low, the likelihood of serious vision-threatening problems is less than one percent. Under the care of your surgeon, most problems can be resolved with time and the healing process.
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