LASIK Corrective Eye Surgery: Am I a Candidate?

According to The Vision Council, 63.7% of people wear prescription glasses to help them see clearly.  Some of those eyeglass wearers also wear contact lenses at times. No matter which you wear most, you can’t see well when you’re not wearing your corrective lenses. 

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, which offers freedom from blurry vision without needing glasses or contact lenses. It’s so successful that 99% of patients experience 20/40 vision, and over 90% achieve the perfect 20/20. 

If you’re interested in the life-altering benefits of clear vision without glasses or lenses,  find out if LASIK is right for you. 

At Focus Refined Eye Care in Houston's The Heights and Montrose neighborhoods, our expert team evaluates your vision and eye health to determine whether you’re a good candidate for LASIK. 

What is LASIK? 

LASIK recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and is the most popular vision correction procedure. It’s a simple surgical procedure that uses a laser to reshape your cornea so it better focuses light on the retina. Your eyesight is blurry due to light hitting your retina incorrectly, and LASIK corrects this. 

LASIK is quick and painless. It typically takes less than 15 minutes, has little downtime, and most people can tell a difference in less than a day. 

Who makes a good candidate? 

You do need to have a stable vision. For that reason, most candidates are at least eighteen years old. 

You also need good overall health. LASIK is not suitable for people with eye diseases like cataracts or glaucoma. Additionally, it is not recommended for people with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. 

To determine your candidacy, we evaluate your eye health and cornea thickness, as well as your overall health and expectations. 

What to expect during LASIK surgery 

Most people are surprised by how quick this outpatient procedure is. You can be in and out in less than thirty minutes, and patients report little to no discomfort. 

We numb your eyes with eye drops and use a special tool to keep your eyelids open. Then, we use the LASIK laser to adjust your cornea precisely. Your cornea’s job is to refract light onto the retina at the back of your eye. When you have astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness, the light isn’t hitting the retina correctly. LASIK corrects this. 

Downtime is minimal, and most people are back to their daily activities within a day. 

What are the risks? 

Complications like vision loss are rare. However, you might experience dry eyes, a temporary glare, or light sensitivity. These usually disappear after a few weeks. 

Occasionally, patients experience vision regression, where their eyesight reverts to its previous prescription. In your health assessment, we go over all the risks with you. 

If you’re ready for freedom from glasses and contact lenses, schedule an appointment with Focus Refined Eye Care, and let’s see if LASIK is right for you.