Some people think glasses make them look more intelligent or distinguished, while others enjoy the fashion statement they can make by having multiple eyeglass frame styles and colors. However, others don’t like the inconvenience and expense of having to update their prescription every year, trying fruitlessly to clean hopelessly smudged glasses, or replace lost, broken, or bent frames.

If you’re tired of your glasses, you may be seeking other options to correct your vision, such as LASIK.

What Is LASIK Surgery?

Today, LASIK surgery can solve multiple vision problems from nearsightedness to farsightedness to astigmatism to aging eyes. This vision correction option has helped so many people improve their vision, and you may think you know what it entails. However, as with all surgical procedures, it’s best to fully understand what the treatment can do – especially with so many improvements and innovations attained over the years.

Unfortunately, many patients with eyeglass prescriptions believe they aren’t candidates for LASIK. You can resolve your confusion with a thorough eye examination by a board-certified ophthalmologist. Here are some factors in determining LASIK candidature:

Your Eyeglass Prescription Falls in the Treatable Range

A patient’s eyeglass prescription derives from a metric unit known as diopters, employed to measure the strength of the eye or lens. Sophisticated laser vision correction may treat up to +6.00 diopters of farsightedness, 6.00 diopters of astigmatism, and -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness.   

Your Prescription Is Stable, Eyes Are Healthy

LASIK eye surgery is a viable option when your prescription is stable – in other words, it has not changed for at least two years. The surgery is safe for patients aged 18 or older, but young adults should wait until they reach ocular maturity in their mid-20s. In addition, your eyes must be healthy, free from infection, injury, or disease.

Vision Quality

With your initial consultation with Dr. Will, he will ask about your vision quality, including any symptoms like these.

Light Distortion

This phenomenon may include halos, glare, starbursts, and blurring around any light sources. Many patients experience these issues at night, especially when driving. In most cases, LASIK will reduce these symptoms.

Dry Eye

This symptom is widespread, with millions of Americans experiencing dry eye. Most patients experiencing dry eye issues find relief after having LASIK surgery.

The Shape of Your Corneas

LASIK enhances your vision by reshaping your cornea – the eye’s surface that helps light focus and create a more precise image on the retina. However, if your cornea is too thin or misshapen, you may not get your desired results. So, during your initial consultation, Dr. Will will measure cornea thickness to ensure enough tissue exists for reshaping the cornea to achieve the optimal amount of correction.

The Size of Your Pupils

Measuring pupil size is an essential part of your LASIK consultation. If your pupils are large, there could be an increased risk following LASIK surgery, like blurry or poor night vision. However, it’s valuable to note that some people with naturally large pupils could still be candidates for LASIK eye surgery.

Are You Ready to Learn More About LASIK?

You can receive a complimentary screening examination with board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Brian at one of our conveniently located offices in Salem, OR, or Vancouver, WA.