What excludes you from LASIK?
Asked by: Dr. Robb Harris | Last update: November 28, 2023Score: 4.3/5 (36 votes)
You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
Who are not LASIK candidates?
- Those who are younger than 18 years old. ...
- Those who are pregnant or nursing. ...
- Those who are taking certain prescription drugs. ...
- Those whose vision is not stable. ...
- Those who are not in good general health. ...
- Those who have dry eye syndrome.
At what prescription can you not do LASIK?
As a general rule, with cutting-edge laser technology like the equipment our team uses, LASIK has the ability to treat: Nearsightedness up to -12.00 diopters. Astigmatism up to 6 diopters. Farsightedness up to +6.00 diopters.
Can your eyesight be too bad for LASIK?
Yes, your vision can be potentially too bad for LASIK. LASIK is available to a variety of patients, but patients will generally qualify for treatment if their vision falls between -0.5 D to -8.0 D myopia. The maximum prescription for treatment for patients with moderate to severe myopia is around -8.0 D.
Can your astigmatism be too bad for LASIK?
The treatment limits for LASIK are fairly generous, so even astigmatism that's thought to be severe may fall within them. With bad astigmatism, we will have to determine if surgery will still be a safe and effective treatment option.
FDA re-evaluates Lasik eye surgery
How long does it take to fully recover from LASIK surgery?
During the surgery, your cornea has a flap cut into it. That flap needs time to reattach itself before it is safe to resume a normal life. A normal LASIK patient takes around three months to complete this recovery time. Some patients can take upwards of six months to a year to fully recover.
Can you get LASIK if you wear glasses?
You may qualify for LASIK if your eyeglass prescription falls within the treatable range. Your prescription (or “refractive error”) is measured in “diopters,” a metric unit used to indicate the strength of the eye or lens.
Can I get LASIK and still wear glasses?
While the majority of people who undergo LASIK treatment will not need glasses after surgery, some individuals may still require glasses for optimum vision. LASIK also does not protect against age-related vision changes, so it's likely you may eventually need reading glasses.
Why doesn t Bill Gates have LASIK?
Because he doesn't want to. Voluntary eye surgery is a personal choice. Even with the best LASIK surgeon, the risks of LASIK are not 0 and it is for an individual to calculate if the risks are worth the outcome. For me, I was happy with contact lenses for 10 years until I couldn't tolerate them anymore.
What qualifies you for LASIK?
Age: Candidates must be at least 18 years old. General health: LASIK candidates should not have certain health problems, including uncontrolled diabetes. In addition, candidates should notify their eye doctors of any medication or other condition that compromises the immune response.
Which lasts longer PRK or LASIK?
The preferable procedure is PRK since it does not leave a flap on your cornea. Thus, it is much safer and more effective than LASIK in the long run. PRK may take longer to heal than LASIK, but the results are the same.
How long after LASIK Do I have to wear sunglasses?
Conclusion. After investing in LASIK, it's crucial to protect your newfound eyes. Part of this involves wearing good-quality sunglasses for at least four weeks. Ideally, you'll make this a new habit so your eyes will be protected for life.
How long do your eyes have to stay the same for LASIK?
A good LASIK candidate should have a prescription that has remained the same or very similar for at least one year. If you find your distance prescription consistently changes at each annual eye exam, LASIK might not be the best option until your prescription stabilizes.
Do I have to wear a blindfold after LASIK?
Ideally you will want to keep your eyes closed for 2 to 4 hours as part of the immediate LASIK recovery process. Thus taking a nap and wearing your clear plastic shields will assist with the recovery process. You may experience mild sensitivity for a few hours but there should be minimal discomfort.
Can LASIK give better vision than glasses?
Laser vision correction actually corrects astigmatism, it does not compensate for the refractive error in a similar manner to glasses and contacts. As a result, patients with astigmatism frequently notice better vision with LASIK than with contacts or glasses.
How long did you sleep after LASIK?
In fact, your LASIK surgeon at Chicago Cornea Consultants™ will tell you to sleep after LASIK. One of the best ways to start your recovery off is by sleeping for 3 or 4 hours after you get LASIK. This is the time when your eyes can rest and start the healing process.
How long are eyes blurry after LASIK?
As safe and effective as LASIK surgery has become, making a full recovery from any surgical procedure takes time, and we want you know to know what to expect after the procedure. Many patients' vision starts to return to normal within 48 hours, though others' can take up to a week to seem right.
Why are my words still blurry after LASIK?
However, you may still experience blurry vision or vision fluctuations from time to time as you heal. Your eyes are adjusting to the newly reshaped cornea. They need time to get used to functioning in a new way. It will take anywhere from three to six months for your eyes to fully heal.
Can I use my phone after LASIK surgery?
Because of this, it's recommended to wait at least 24 hours before using your phone, computer, tablet or watching TV. Using your phone immediately after the procedure can cause your eyes to strain, and that may negatively affect the healing process.
Should I sleep with sunglasses on after LASIK?
Protect Your Eyes
Continue to wear the shields any time you are napping or sleeping at night for 5 days. If pets or children share your bed, you should wear shields for 10 nights after your LASIK procedure. Make sure they are taped on well - this will help prevent you from rubbing your eye while sleeping.
Which is more risky LASIK or PRK?
PRK is considered slightly less risky than LASIK because there is no risk of complications with the corneal flap since the procedure does not create a flap. In LASIK, there may be a rate of flap-related complications of around 1% when the surgery is performed by an experienced eye surgeon.
Which is more painful LASIK or PRK?
PRK is associated with slightly more postsurgical pain than LASIK. That's because PRK removes the corneal epithelium. 4 You may have some pain in the eye for a couple of days. Usually, you can take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers for any pain after PRK.
Why get PRK instead of LASIK?
PRK Pros & Cons
It's better for patients with thin corneas. There is no risk of complications with the corneal flap. There is less risk of negatively affecting corneal thickness. Recovery time is longer, which may be disruptive.
Are you awake during LASIK?
Understandably, many people have questions about this procedure with “Are you awake during LASIK surgery?” being one of the top frequently asked questions. Yes, you will be awake for your entire LASIK corrective eye surgery procedure.