Introduction

LASIK surgery makes use of a laser in correcting a person’s vision problem that would otherwise have required them to wear glasses or contact lenses. Therefore, it is a type of refractive surgery. Refractive error develops when an individual realizes that they can no longer see clearly like they used to due to the eye’s inability to properly refract light.

A short visit to that class you actually liked or at least understood. We see things as they are because light passes through the cornea and the lens and converges on the retina after being bent several times. The retina subsequently converts this light into nerve signals that are sent to the brain for interpretation. The image is then formed. However, if this process is defective in any way, vision may be impaired or blurred. Worse still, one may lose the ability to form images. This occurs due to the eye’s inability to refract light as was expected.

This is when you hear of and become interested in LASIK surgery. Your eye doctor will inform, advise, and perhaps encourage you to consider undergoing LASIK surgery. They do this because they use laser technology in the correction of vision problems. As a result, theLASIK surgery changes the cornea shape in such a way as to allow more of the light entering the eye to converge on the retina. In other words, the LASIK surgery allows one to see clearly and better than before the treatment was administered. This procedure may be considered if one wakes up one day and discovers that they are near-sighted or far-sighted. It may also be considered when one realizes that they have developed astigmatism.

LASIK surgery aims to correct one’s refractive error so as to improve their vision. However, the best part about it is that it could free them from their dependency on glasses or contact lenses for good!

The criteria to have a LASIK surgery

As with many procedures, a few requirements should be met before considering LASIK surgery as a mode of vision correction. These include:

A person considering LASIK surgery should be at least 18 years old. Ideally, they should be at least 21 years old.

They should recheck their eye prescription to ensure that it has not changed since their last test.

Before performing the procedure, an eye doctor will notify the patient if their refractive error is correctable by LASIK surgery. Therefore, ensure that one has a refractive error correctable by this procedure.

They should also ensure that their corneas are healthy and strong enough to withstand the procedure. One’s overall eye health should also be considered. If their corneas are weak, then there is no telling how safe or effective the LASIK procedure will be.

I am a realist, or at least I try to be. So please, when considering this procedure, do not have unrealistically high expectations. After all, LASIK surgery was not created to be a miracle cure for all vision problems.

In other words, the refractive error one wishes to correct by LASIK surgery should not be changing frequently. If one’s myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism is constantly fluctuating, then it may be best to look elsewhere.

One should also not have severely dry eyes. If the corneas are too thin, then it may also be best to hold off on the surgery. In general, eye health should be considered before considering this procedure. As stated earlier, the health and thickness of the corneas are of utmost importance. If they are unhealthy or weak, LASIK surgery may not be recommended. Furthermore, if one has Keratoconus (a condition characterized by thinning and cone-shaped corneas), advanced glaucoma, cataracts that interfere with vision, or multiple eye infections, then it may be best to hold off on the procedure. Lastly, if one has diabetes and is unable to control their condition, then LASIK surgery may not be for them.

I do not want to scare you. I am merely being realistic.

A woman should not consider LASIK surgery if she is pregnant or breastfeeding as there is a higher risk of developing vision problems during these times.

An ophthalmologist will talk to their patient more on the details of LASIK surgery and the requirements for it. They will advise, recommend, and even examine the patient in due course.

LASIK surgery can be a gateway to achieving perfect vision. After the procedure, the patient’s vision will be clear and stable with a distance of 20/20 to 20/40 (without the aid of glasses or contact lenses). 9 out of 10 patients report satisfaction with this vision after the surgery. However, as mentioned above, the development of presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision) with time is not unusual for those who have undergone this procedure. This condition is not correctable by LASIK surgery.