Who makes a good candidate for LASIK Surgery?

When you’re first considering LASIK eye surgery, you may wonder if you’re a LASIK surgery candidate. At Wang Vision Institute, Dr. Ming Wang and Dr. Josh Frenkel evaluate their patients in Nashville, TN to see f they are a candidate for laser vision correction surgery. In addition to your prescription, there are several factors that determine when you can do LASIK surgery. Our team will meet with you to examine your eye health, decide if LASIK surgery is right for you, and let you know what to expect after LASIK.

Who are the best LASIK surgery candidates?

Ideal candidates for LASIK eye surgery meet the following requirements:

Are at least 18 years of age
Are in good general health and do not take medication that compromises the immune system
Are not pregnant or nursing
Have healthy cornea and adequate cornea thickness
Do not have an active eye disease
Have at least 20/40 vision with glasses or contacts
Have a stable glasses prescription

Dr. Wang and Dr. Frenkel will do a thorough examination of their patients to make an informed decision. Most patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can expect positive results from LASIK in Nashville, TN.

There is no set maximum age for LASIK, but the overall health of your eyes is taken into consideration. For example, if you have glaucoma or cataracts, LASIK isn’t for you. For those over 40, presbyopia may come into play, which affects how you see with your lens close up.

What conditions influence if you’re a candidate for LASIK?

There are some medical conditions and situations which may affect if you’re a LASIK surgery candidate. Corneal and retinal health is especially important since you must have enough corneal tissue thickness to safely have LASIK eye surgery. A history of past eye disease, a recent history of ocular herpes, or evidence of collagen vascular disease can also disqualify you from eligibility for LASIK surgery in Nashville, TN.

What to expect during a LASIK eye evaluation

At Wang Vision Institute, we will ask you a series of health questions during your visit to learn about your candidacy for LASIK eye surgery. We will want to know about both your medical, surgical, and eye health history, why you’re considering LASIK, the medications you’re taking, your social history and lifestyle (including alcohol consumption), and your family history of eye problems.

Next, you will have a variety of LASIK tests. These usually painless procedures scan your eyes for measurements that help Dr. Wang and Dr. Frenkel determine your LASIK eligibility. Some tests that you may have during your consultation include:

Dry eye testing helps us to evaluate if pre-procedure dry eye treatment is needed to prepare your eyes.
Pupil testing allows us to see how your reflexes react to light.
Corneal topography allows us to map the surface of your cornea. Pachymetry helps us establish if you have an adequate corneal thickness for LASIK.
Keratometry looks at the shape and radius of your cornea.
Wavefront analysis allows us to measure how light bounces off the back of your eyes.

What does LASIK fix?

LASIK surgery corrects refractive errors, which prevent your eyes from focusing clearly. Some refractive errors that LASIK eye surgery can correct include:

Myopia: Nearsightedness is when you can see near but cannot see far away.
Hyperopia: Farsightedness is when you can see far away but cannot see near.
Astigmatism: Astigmatism results in blurred vision at all distances.
Presbyopia: This is the normal loss of ability focusing that occurs with age, usually after age 40.

Lazy eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and keratoconus are all conditions that cannot be corrected with LASIK eye surgery.

Learn if you’re a LASIK surgery candidate

When you’re interested in laser eye surgery in Nashville, TN, Dr. Ming Wang and Dr. Josh Frenkel can evaluate your eye health to determine if LASIK eye surgery is right for you. At Wang Vision Institute, determination for LASIK candidacy is done on an individual basis and our experienced doctors take into account your eye and general health, as well as other factors that influence the success of the surgery. Call our office today to schedule a consultation to discuss LASIK surgery.