LASIK can seem like an obvious choice for those seeking to correct bad eyesight, especially with its popularity and the promising results it offers. Making the transition from corrective lenses to the permanence of LASIK surgery requires careful consideration of several key factors, including your eye health, age, lifestyle, financial investment, the technology used, realistic expectations and your long-term vision goals. Each of these elements plays a significant role in determining if LASIK is the right choice for you. 

1. Tired of Glasses and Contacts: If you find yourself constantly fumbling for your glasses or dealing with the hassle of contacts—especially when it’s windy, raining or at the gym—LASIK could be a game-changer. Inconvenience aside, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, LASIK eliminates the smudging or breaking of glasses and the cycle of putting contacts in and out, especially when they become polluted by allergens and debris. 

2. Stable Vision Equals LASIK Ready: If your prescription has remained consistent for at least a year or two, you might be a good candidate. LASIK works best when your eyes are stable, ensuring you get lasting results. In addition to stable vision, patients also need to have an adequate amount of corneal thickness for the surgery to be successful. 

3. Healthy Eyes, Happy You: LASIK requires that your eyes are healthy and free from conditions like dry eyes, cataracts, glaucoma or severe eye diseases. If your eyes are in good shape and you don’t have underlying issues, LASIK might be worth considering.

4. Age-Ready: The FDA requires LASIK patients to be a minimum of age 18, but ideally over the age of 21. The eyes still undergo changes well into adulthood and LASIK may be ineffective if the eyes are still developing. Additionally, older individuals, age 45 and older, often go through age-related vision changes like cataracts and presbyopia. While there is no upper age limit, changes in vision due to age is another valid factor to discuss with your eye care provider. 

5. LASIK Fits Your Budget: Ongoing maintenance and costs of replacements give LASIK another advantage to ditch your glasses or contact lenses. Most eye care offices offer promotional deals, payment plans, and saving strategies like utilizing a health savings account (HSA) to make LASIK affordable. 

6. For the Adventurous at Heart: If you love sports, traveling or just being outdoors, LASIK could make life easier. No more worrying about lost glasses or dealing with dry eyes from contacts—LASIK can enhance your active lifestyle by freeing you from the daily maintenance of corrective lenses.

7. Long-Term Clarity: Exploring LASIK means you want to see clearly all hours of the day and night, waking up ready to view the whole without having to reach for visual aids. While LASIK significantly improves vision, often to 20/20 or better, patients need to have realistic expectations about the results and the recovery process. 

Ready to take the leap? Let’s go! If all the above reasons have you nodding yes, you have officially checked off the signs you may be ready for LASIK. It’s time to book a consultation with a board-certified LASIK surgeon at The Eye Clinic Surgicenter. To learn about what questions to ask and how to prepare for your exam, visit WEBSITE. If reading this list, you are unsure if you meet the qualifications for LASIK, do not be discouraged. Advancements in modern technology have paved the way for other types of refractive correction surgery. To schedule an appointment to determine your options, call 406-252-6608.