I Have a Lazy Eye. Can LASIK Eye Surgery Help?

When you’re considering laser vision correction surgery, you will need to learn if you’re a candidate for LASIK eye surgery to determine if it will resolve your eye problems, including astigmatism or a lazy eye. At Wang Vision Institute, Dr. Ming Wang and Dr. Josh Frenkel evaluate patients at their Nashville, TN office to determine which vision correction surgery will suit their needs. There are numerous factors that play into this decision, in addition to your prescription. Our vision professionals examine your eye health to make the most informed decision for your eligibility for eye surgery.

What causes a lazy eye?

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is reduced vision in one eye because the eye and the brain don’t work well together. While the affected eye often looks normal, it’s not used normally, as the brain favors the other eye. A lazy eye may be caused due to a misalignment of the eyes, or if the eyes have different amounts of refractive error, which results in poor vision in one eye and better vision in the other.

Can LASIK correct a lazy eye?

LASIK usually cannot repair a lazy eye. However, Dr. Wang and Dr. Frenkel have found an exception. When one eye has significantly more nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism than the other eye, it’s possible your brain will ignore the eye with a greater error. Dissimilar contact lens powers in both eyes don’t cause magnification problems, so they work better than glasses for these patients. However, if someone cannot wear contact lenses successfully, LASIK surgery in Nashville, TN may be the way to fully correct their refractive errors to prevent or to repair a lazy eye. We can discuss your eligibility for LASIK surgery at a preoperative exam and consultation at Wang Vision Institute.

What is LASIK?

LASIK or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis is a laser vision correction surgery used to reshape a cornea. This leads to the correction of refractive errors, including:

Astigmatism
Nearsightedness
Farsightedness
Lazy eye

This eye surgery helps to reduce and, in some instances, eliminate the need for contact lenses or glasses. However, it may not be covered by insurance as it is considered elective surgery. At Wang Vision Institute, our team can help determine if your insurance will cover your procedure before you decide to have it.

Who is the best LASIK eye surgery candidate?

Ideal LASIK eye surgery candidates in Nashville, TN, should be 18 years of age or older, and in good general health. Other requirements include:

Are not pregnant or nursing
Have a healthy cornea and proper cornea thickness
Do not have an active eye disease
Have at least 20/40 vision with either prescription glasses or contacts
Have a stable eyeglass prescription (with at least six months of no change)

Dr. Wang and Dr. Frenkel can conduct a thorough examination to determine a candidate’s eligibility for LASIK eye surgery. Most patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can expect positive results with this eye surgery. Ultimately, there is no set maximum age for LASIK; however, the overall eye health is evaluated to determine candidacy. Patients with either glaucoma or cataracts aren’t eligible.

What happens during a LASIK eye evaluation?

At Wang Vision Institute, we will first ask our patients health questions before performing different tests to determine their candidacy for LASIK eye surgery. Some tests that we may perform during your consultation include:

Dry eye testing: This helps our doctors to evaluate whether a pre-procedure of dry eye treatment is needed to prepare the eyes for surgery.
Pupil testing: This helps us to evaluate how your reflexes react to light.
Corneal topography: This gives us a map of the surface of your cornea, which allows us to measure your corneal thickness to see if you’re eligible for surgery.
Keratometry: This evaluates the shape and radius of your cornea.
Wavefront analysis: This analysis measures how well that light bounces off the back of your eye.

Learn more about if LASIK can repair your lazy eye during an eye evaluation

At Wang Vision Institute, we offer consultations to patients to determine if you’re a candidate for each eye surgery. Dr. Ming Wang or Dr. Josh Frenkel will closely evaluate your eye health, especially those with a lazy eye, to determine if they can expect results with LASIK eye surgery in Nashville, TN. To learn more about if LASIK will help your lazy eye, call our office today to schedule a consultation.