Considering LASIK eye surgery? While this safe and effective vision-correcting procedure liberates 800,000 Americans each year from blurry vision, contact lenses, and glasses, it’s not the right choice for everyone. Here at Brimhall Eye Center in Las Vegas, our experienced eye care professionals often get asked, “Who should not get LASIK?” – and it’s one of the most important conversations we have with our patients who come in for a LASIK consultation. Whether you’re dreaming of crystal-clear vision or feeling frustrated with your current eyewear, knowing which factors affect LASIK eligibility is a good first step to finding the vision correction treatment that’s right for your vision goals and eye health.
3 Key Health Areas We Consider When Determining Who Should Not Get LASIK
Your journey to a clearer vision begins with a thorough evaluation of your overall health. During your consultation with us, we’ll carefully assess several key health areas to ensure that you’re getting the vision correction treatment that’s the safest, and most effective outcome for your long-term vision.
1. General Health Factors.
Understanding your overall health is crucial to determining LASIK suitability. Those who should not get LASIK are those with unmanaged, long-term medical conditions or those with hormonal fluctuations. For example:
- Autoimmune Disorders. If you have conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, your body’s healing response may require us to explore alternative vision correction options.
- Diabetes Management. While having diabetes doesn’t automatically disqualify you from LASIK, we need to verify that your blood sugar levels are well-controlled and that there’s no significant retinopathy which is a complication of uncontrolled diabetes that can affect your eyesight.
- Current Health Status. Any serious illnesses should be stabilized before pursuing LASIK, as you’ll be at your best to heal optimally and get the best vision outcome.
- Pregnancy and Nursing. We recommend waiting for several months after breastfeeding to pursue LASIK as hormonal fluctuation can temporarily affect your corneal shape and stability.
2. How’s Your Eye Health?
Your eye health plays a fundamental role in who should or should not get LASIK. We carefully evaluate:
- Dry Eye Management. If you have dry eye syndrome, we recommend getting it treated and managed first, as LASIK can temporarily increase dryness during the healing period.
- Corneal Characteristics. If your cornea is too thin, you’re someone who should not get LASIK and may benefit from alternative procedures like EVO ICL, which preserves your corneal tissue.
- Pre-existing Eye Conditions. If you have keratitis, glaucoma, or keratoconus, you may not be a suitable candidate to undergo laser eye surgery.
- Pupil Size. Large pupils that dilate significantly in low light require careful assessment to prevent potential night vision issues.
- Vision Prescription Range. Severe vision problems beyond the standard correction range (-11.00 to +5.00 diopters) may need different approaches.
- Stable Vision. Having changing prescriptions or unstable vision can make you unsuitable. Your prescription should show minimal changes for at least 12 months before getting LASIK.
“We believe that successful vision correction starts with choosing the right procedure for your unique situation. Sometimes, recommending against LASIK surgery is the most caring advice we can offer; but, that doesn’t mean we can’t find the perfect solution for your vision needs” – Brimhall Eye Center.
3. Medication and Age-Related Considerations
You’re someone who should not get LASIK if you’re taking certain medications that affect the healing process or have age-related vision changes.
Medication Factors
- Taking corticosteroids like prednisone can affect how well you heal.
- Are taking immunosuppressive medications that compromise healing and increase infection risk.
- Are under an acne treatment that contains isotretinoin (requires a waiting period).
Age-related Factors
- Laser eye surgery is not approved for those under the age of 18, as your vision is still changing.
- You have age-related eye conditions like cataracts, that may benefit from cataract surgery prior to undergoing LASIK.
Setting Realistic Expectations
At Brimhall Eye Center, we believe in transparent communication about what LASIK can and cannot achieve:
- Some patients may still need glasses for specific activities, particularly reading as they age.
- Individual healing times vary, with optimal vision typically achieved within 1-3 months.
- Alternative treatments might be recommended based on your unique eye health profile.
