LASIK has helped millions of people see clearly and comfortably, without the hassle of glasses or contact lenses. New England Eye Center itself has a plethora of incredible reviews for its many locations all over Massachusetts! The benefits of LASIK to one’s quality of life is clear, but unfortunately, not everyone can receive the procedure. Certain limitations exist in order to protect you and your sight. Luckily, many of these factors have workarounds or simple solutions. Some of them just require being patient and waiting for things to change. Here’s a quick list of some things that may prevent you from receiving LASIK, why they affect your candidacy, and what can be done.
Age
This is the simplest limitation, but perhaps not the most obvious as to why. When we are young, our eyes change rapidly, frequently, and without warning. A huge part of the LASIK procedure is measuring the shape of the cornea, which is done with ultra-precise equipment in order to achieve the maximum benefits. Due to the nature of young eyes, it would be extremely impractical to perform the surgery, as the eyes could completely change rendering the surgery totally useless.
What Can Be Done?: LASIK is not available for anyone under the age of 18. You may consider waiting until you are at least 21, just to be certain that your eyes have stopped changing. In any case, you must have had a stable prescription for at least one year prior to the surgery.
Pregnancy
Similar to age, pregnancy can prevent you from getting LASIK because it can affect your vision dramatically. Changes in hormones can affect your prescription and, as previously stated, your prescription must be stable prior to surgery.
What Can Be Done: The answer is, unfortunately, more patience. You should wait until about 3 months after you finish nursing before you consider getting LASIK surgery. After this time, your hormones should be back to normal and your eyes will follow suit.
Healthy Eyes and Body
People with active lifestyles are some of the most likely to want LASIK, as the absence of glasses and contacts can make exercise and movement more enjoyable. However, depending on your favored activity, you may be more prone to eye injuries and infection, both of which will affect your eligibility.
Other conditions that can affect you are diabetes, immune system diseases, and eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts.
What Can Be Done: Make sure you wear proper eye protection at all times when playing contact sports, or perform any other activity that will put your eyes at risk. If you have a preexisting condition or injury before the surgery, you will need to have that fixed before you will be considered for LASIK.
Unfortunately, some factors are permanent and cannot be circumvented. However, alternatives may be available depending on your condition. PRK, Intraocular lenses and RLE are among these procedures. Schedule a consultation to see which is right for you!
Willingness to Comply With Doctor’s Instructions
It is crucial to work as a team with your doctor when undertaking any refractive surgery. Although LASIK has an incredible success rate, a large part of that success includes the cooperation and communication of the patient.
What Can Be Done: You will need to follow your doctor’s instructions to the absolute best of your ability. These instructions will include not wearing contacts for several weeks before the operation, wearing protective eyewear after the operation, and attending any and all scheduled checkups for several months after the surgery.
Think you’re ready for LASIK surgery? Contact New England Eye Center in Boston, MA to schedule your LASIK consultation today!
