Take the LASIK test to find out
Potential candidates must meet the criteria below to be eligible for LASIK surgery:
- Age: Refractive procedures are approved for people over age 18. Most patients will need to wait until they are 21 for their eyes to stabilize
- General health: LASIK candidates must be in good general health, and should not have certain health problems, including uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune or collagen vascular disease. Certain medications (such as retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
- Eye health: Candidates should be free of eye diseases including keratoconus, glaucoma, cataracts, corneal disease and certain retinal and optic nerve diseases.
- Eye problems: LASIK patients should inform their eye doctor of certain eye problems including strabismus (muscle imbalance), amblyopia (lazy eye), or any other eye conditions that may influence healing. Eye doctors should also be aware of other conditions including: keloid scarring with previous surgical healing, back problems and claustrophobia.
- Eye injury: Patients should not have any eye infections or injury.
- Stable vision: Candidates’ vision must be stable for at least one year prior to the procedure date.
- Nursing/pregnancy: Candidates should not be nursing or pregnant when undergoing the LASIK procedure. Hormones may affect the stability of your prescription, so pregnant or nursing women are not eligible to pursue LASIK surgery until three menstrual cycles after nursing has been discontinued.