The Ideal Surgery Candidate

Whether or not you are a candidate for PRK, LASIK, or LASEK, depends on your current prescription, cornea thickness and other individual eye characteristics, and overall eye health and history.

Which procedure is best, will be determined, following the comprehensive eye exam, however general guidelines do exist for all surgery candidates.

The ideal candidate includes those who:

Are over 18 years of age and have had a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for at least two years.

Have sufficient corneal thickness (the cornea is the transparent front part of the eye). A LASIK patient should have a cornea that is thick enough to allow the surgeon to safely create a clean corneal flat of appropriate depth. (Thin corneas may be LASEK candidates), as discussed earlier.

Are affected by one of the common types of vision problems or refractive error – myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision caused by an irregular shaped cornea), hyperopia (farsightedness), or a combination thereof (e.g., myopia with astigmatism).

Do not suffer from any disease, vision-related or otherwise, that may reduce the effectiveness of the surgery or the patient’s ability to heal properly and quickly. Discuss any concerns during your initial consultation.

Are adequately informed about the benefits and risks of the procedure. Candidates should thoroughly discuss the procedure with their physicians.