Is LASIK Surgery the Right Choice for You?

Although your ophthalmologist will tell you if you’re a candidate for LASIK, there are certain criteria you must consider yourself apart from the doctor’s suggestions. The decision to opt for LASIK surgery must be based on three factors: Your requirements, medical history, and financial condition.

Requirements: If you wear lenses or spectacles on a very irregular basis, and can manage fine even without them, you might want to reconsider spending so much on LASIK. Same if you are over 40 years of age, since vision more or less tends to deteriorate around this age, with or without LASIK. Keep in mind that post-operation you will not be able to play sports that involve direct contact with the face for 6 months to a year. If you’re a professional, taking a year off might not be very easy.

Medical History: This is by far the most important factor in deciding if LASIK is for you. Your doctor must examine your medical history in detail particularly for the following:
• Herpes simplex or Herpes zoster (shingles) involving the eye area.
• Glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, or ocular hypertension.
• Eye diseases, such as uveitis/iritis (inflammations of the eye)
• Eye injuries or previous eye surgeries.
• Inflammation of the eyelids with crusting of the eyelashes, known as Belaphritis that may increase the risk of infection or inflammation of the cornea after LASIK.
• If you have large pupils, then you are susceptible to symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts, and ghost images (double vision) after surgery. Post surgery, some patients with large pupils develop debilitating symptoms like not being able to drive at night or in fog.
• Thin Cornea: Performing LASIK that involves reshaping on a cornea that is too thin may result in blinding complications.
• Previous refractive surgery (e.g., RK, PRK, LASIK). If you decide to go in for additional refractive surgery, then you must carefully take into consideration your situation after consultation with multiple surgeons, if required

Financial Condition: Take a realistic view of your current financial conditions, the cost you incur on contact lenses and/or spectacles and what you will incur if you opt for LASIK. While calculating the cost of LASIK surgery, include the preoperative and post operative expenses as well as what you might incur to correct any mistakes that might happen during the procedure.