So you have got all your information, looked at a bunch of articles and maybe even started searching for a center. You are ready to make the first step in LASIK vision correction. Congratulations! That is a very big step, and not one to be taken lightly. Now you may be wondering am I a candidate?
Typically a good candidate would be a person of 18 years of age or older, and otherwise in good general health. What does that mean? Well it means that you are not suffering from any eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, keratoconus (a deterioration of the structure of the cornea with gradual bulging from the normal round shape to a cone shape), and any retinal or optic nerve diseases. Most LASIK centers will provide you with a free consultation, where screening for these diseases would take place.
Other diseases that may inhibit your surgery or recovery could be things such as uncontrolled diabetes, collagen vascular disease and any other immune compromising illnesses. There is a lot of information to process when getting ready or thinking about having LASIK. Most LASIK facilities will usually provide you with a free consultation to determine whether you are a candidate for the procedure. Make sure you are completely honest about your medical history, otherwise the only person you are putting in danger is yourself. It is important to speak with your optometrist and general health practitioner and advise them on your plans for LASIK prior to completing your procedure.
November 22, 2011 at 2:59 pm
so……if you have to be ‘contact lens’ free for a certain period of time before your appointment, but you are required to wear them to drive, how are you supposed to be ‘contact lens’ free for a certain period of time before you appointment? i have to drive to work every day.
November 22, 2011 at 4:41 pm
We understand completely. One of the hardest parts patients go through is returning to their glasses for a very short time so that we can be sure our custom wavefront scans are not being influenced by contacts. Although this is a hard step, our patients all seem to agree that it was worth it given the years ahead of great vision!
November 22, 2011 at 4:49 pm
I haven’t had glasses for years.
December 1, 2011 at 2:29 pm
This would be a problem for myself also. I have had Boston lenses for about 30 years and the only time I was “contact – free” was when I lost a lens a few years back. The glasses I have as backup (for about 30 minutes a day) are old and out of date (prescription-wise). I wouldn’t be able to use these glasses. Is there any situations where we don’t need to be “contact-Free” for your procedures and/or examinations? Thank you.
December 1, 2011 at 3:47 pm
I am not able to completely answer you without further testing and additional details, however, I can say that some patients are able to be re-fit by their eye doctor with soft disposable contacts during their de-adaptation to Boston gas permeable lenses. Often times this requires changes in the soft contact lens prescriptions which is why so many eye doctors use disposable contacts during this de-adaptation process. The other frustration is putting up with less than perfect vision with the soft contacts however, for some patients, that is still preferred over trying to wear glasses for the long de-adaptation. If you and your eye doctor decide to do this, the final de-adaptation from soft contacts to glasses is generally 2-4 weeks, depending upon different factors.
February 26, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I had lasik surgery and had monovision done. Since that time, my reading eye has gotten worse and I’ve been told that it cannot be corrected. I now wear one contact lens in my reading eye and I hate it. Is there anyway I can have that eye corrected?
February 27, 2012 at 9:58 am
What center did you have your procedure done at Jamey? Can you email us your first and last name as well as your contact info to facebook@tlcvision.com? Thanks!
February 29, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I HAVE HAD MY CONTACTS FOR 9 YEARS AND I DO SLEEP IN THEM AND I HARDLEY TAKE THEM OUT. IM HAVING TO BUY A PAIR OF GLASSES SO I CAN BE A CANDIDATE FOR LASIK. COULD I GET SOFE CONTACTS? I REALLY HATE TO BUY GLASSES AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER DONT NEED THEM ANYMORE.
February 29, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Usually it takes 3-5 days or so of being out of soft lenses in order to do the procedure. However because you have worn them for so long it may not be possible. The best thing to do Kellie is check with your LASIK surgeon, as every case is unique to the patient. Good luck with your procedure!
March 11, 2012 at 4:17 pm
I’ve had very minor changes to my prescription the last couple years. When it says your vision must be stable for a year, does this mean your prescription must remain EXACTLY the same in the past year, or can one still be a candidate if the change was very minor? Thanks!
March 14, 2012 at 5:47 pm
One could still be a candidate with minor, almost insignificant changes. The final decision often is influenced also by your current age and by the age in which you first started to need glasses. I suggest you get a copy of your past 2-3 years eye exams and take them with you when you go in for your free lasik consultation.
April 22, 2012 at 10:36 am
I wear glasses and color contacts switching between the two often,is the use of color contacts worsen my possiblity to be elgible due to the changes that may have occurred?
May 15, 2012 at 10:12 am
Your wearing of colored contact lenses should have no effect on your being a candidate for lasik. You should first, go into TLC and have a no-charge evaluation to determine if you are a candidate. If you are, final testing and scans will be rechecked after you have been out of your contacts completely for a specified period of time to assure that the contacts, clear or colored, are not effecting the information we obtain from the scans.
May 2, 2012 at 1:54 pm
I have a slight narrow angle glaucoma – would I still be considered a possible candidate for Lasik?
May 15, 2012 at 10:28 am
If all other indicators are favorable and point to your being a good candidate for lasik, narrow angle glaucoma alone is not an absolute contraindication. The Clinical Director and Surgeon at your TLC Center will evaluate and determine, on a case-by-case basis, your candidacy and which procedure is best for you. We suggest you go into your TLC Center for a free consultation.