Is Lasik Surgery the Right Treatment for You

Lasik as you probably know is not for everyone.

You should be at least 18 years old (21 for some lasers), since the vision of people
younger than 18 usually continues to change.
You should not be pregnant or nursing as these conditions might change the measured
refraction of the eye.
You should not be taking certain prescription drugs, such as Accutane or oral
prednisone.
Your eyes must be healthy and your prescription stable. If you're myopic, you should
postpone Lasik until your refraction has stabilized, as myopia may continue to increase in
some patients until their mid- to late 20s.
You should be in good general health. Lasik may not be recommended for patients with
diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or
cataracts. You should discuss this with your surgeon.
Weigh the risks and rewards. If you're happy wearing contacts or glasses, you may want
to forego the surgery.
Understand your expectations from the surgery. Are they realistic?
Ask your doctor if you're a candidate for monovision — correcting one eye for
distance vision and the other eye for near vision. Lasik cannot correct presbyopia so that
one eye can see at both distance and near. However, Lasik can be used to correct one eye
for distance and the other for near. If you can adjust to this correction, it may
eliminate or reduce your need for reading glasses. In some instances, surgery on only one
eye is required. If your doctor thinks you're a candidate, ask about the pros and cons.

Filed under Eye Treatment, Lasik Eye Surgery

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