You may have wondered what factors determine whether or not you are a good candidate for Lasik. Lasik is a procedure in which a flap is made in the outer layer of the cornea. The cornea flap is lifted back and the excimer laser is used to reshape the tissue underneath. The flap is then placed back in position. The factors that determine if the eye is appropriate for Lasik are as follows: the presence or absence of other eye diseases, the shape of the cornea, the thickness of the cornea, the age of the patient, the amount of cornea tissue that would be left behind after surgery and the degree of near-sightedness.
To ensure stability of the cornea after Lasik, the cornea should have a normal shape and be thick enough to undergo reshaping without leaving too little tissue behind. In cases where too little tissue would remain, an alternative laser vision correction procedure called “PRK” may be used. This procedure is the same as Lasik except that a cornea flap is not made. The surface layer called “epithelium” is removed and the underlying tissue is reshaped with the laser. The surface tissue then grows back. The results of PRK are excellent, but take longer to achieve.
The most important criterion for determining candidacy for laser vision correction is the patient’s goals and expectations. The patient should understand what they would be gaining and what the possible trade offs would be with laser vision correction. For example, monovision is a strategy that allows the over 40 patient to have good distance vision and still retain reading vision. With monovision however, some patients could require glasses to drive at night. A detailed discussion of the needs and desires of the patient is needed to determine if laser vision correction would be able to meet their expectations.
We offer free evaluations to determine if you’re a candidate for Lasik. If possible, stay out of your soft contact lenses for two weeks prior to your visit. Contact lenses can cause distortions of the corneal surface that can affect your measurements. The cornea will revert to its natural shape, usually within a few days, but sometimes it can take longer. We will take the necessary time to evaluate the health of your eyes, educate you about the procedure and thoroughly answer your questions.
Please call 661-259-3937 to make an appointment or feel free to send me an email at craighelm@sbcglobal.net.