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Couple looking out at the oceanNot every patient is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Although LASIK has helped millions of people reduce and even eliminate dependence on glasses, it is important to not assume that LASIK is the best option for you. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate is to be evaluated with Rex Hamilton, MD.

Good LASIK Candidates:

  • Have healthy eyes with adequate corneal tissue thickness.
  • Have a stable glasses or contact lens prescription.
  • Must be at least 18 years old.
  • Are affected by one of the common types of vision problems (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism).
  • Have realistic expectations

Good surgical results are dependent upon full disclosure of your medical history and a very thorough preoperative evaluation. During your preoperative examination, multiple tests are performed including:

  • Corneal thickness testing
  • Corneal strength measurement
  • Pupil size measurement
  • Dry eye evaluation
  • Diagnostic testing of the curvature of your cornea
  • Refractions to measure the amount of nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism
  • Wavefront measurements
  • Dilated examination of the retina

Upon completion of the examination, our faculty surgeons will confirm if LASIK is your best option for vision correction. If it is not, our experienced surgeons will discuss alternative treatments with you. You can learn more about those procedures by visiting the LASIK Alternatives page on this website. Our dedication to appropriate and thorough pre-operative testing is critical to our excellent surgical track record.

Poor LASIK Candidates

There are many situations that exist that could make a person a less than ideal candidate. Some of those are:

  • Having a long history of dry eyes. (For a better understanding of dry eye syndrome, visit dry-eye-syndrome.net).
  • Diagnosis of autoimmune disorders. The drugs or medications used for treating these disorders can cause your immune system to delay healing.
  • Diagnosis of corneal abnormalities such as keratoconus or scarring.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • History of ocular herpes within one year prior to having LASIK.
  • Unrealistic expectations.

Realistic Expectations with LASIK eye surgery

The vast majority of LASIK patients are thrilled after their procedure. However, it is important to remember as with any surgical procedure, the outcomes may differ. LASIK cannot provide perfect vision every time for every patient. The final outcome of surgery varies from person to person due to different rates of healing. Take the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the procedure with your surgeon. If you do not have realistic expectations, you will not be a good candidate for LASIK.
With Rex Hamilton, MD, you will find that we perform extensive diagnostic testing to determine if our patients are good candidates for vision correction surgery.