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What Are Eyeglass Prescription Qualifications for LASIK?
If you are due for an eye exam, you might be thinking this is the year to get LASIK surgery. If you meet the LASIK surgery qualifications, you could say goodbye to expensive frames, transition lenses, UV protection, anti-glare protection, and all those other options that make eyeglasses expensive.
For contact lens wearers, imagine never having to buy boxes of contacts, contact lens cleaner, and storage cases ever again! Over time, all that money you would spend on eyeglasses or contacts year after year will pay for your LASIK surgery with a qualified LASIK surgeon.
There are several different lasers used with LASIK corrective eye surgery today. Each of these lasers is designed to be used for a variety of vision problems. If you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, you could qualify for LASIK.
In the past, decades ago, when LASIK was first approved by the FDA, eye surgeons were hesitant to perform the procedure on people with eyeglass prescriptions who were considered in the “high range.” Today, that is no longer the case as the prescription qualifications for LASIK have become wider.
As such, if you were told in the past you weren’t a good candidate for LASIK because of a “high range” prescription, this may no longer apply. The ranges for astigmatism and farsightedness are now +6.00. If you are nearsighted, the range is now -12.00.
Other LASIK Surgery Qualifications
Besides the expanded prescription range, there are other LASIK surgery qualifications you must meet, including:
- At least 18 years of age. However, most LASIK eye surgeons prefer young people to wait until their mid-20s to ensure their eyes are fully developed unless there is a specific need that warrants the surgery.
- Your eyeglass/contact prescription has to be stable. The prescription should be the same today as it was the previous two years. If it changes yearly, it means the eyes are not stable.
- The eyes must be healthy and have sufficient corneal tissue so it can be reshaped. Some people have thin corneas, so they would not be ideal LASIK candidates.
- The pupils must be the right size. Some people have large pupils and there are additional risks and potential side effects of LASIK.
Learn more about LASIK and if it’s the right fit for you.
How Do I Find Out if I Meet Today’s LASIK Surgery Qualifications?
You will want to schedule an initial consultation appointment with a board-certified LASIK surgeon. During your consultation, your surgeon will review your vision history and eye problems and examine your eyes to determine if they meet the requirements for LASIK.
After the consultation, your eye surgeon will let you know if LASIK is right for you. If you are not a candidate for LASIK, your eye surgeon will discuss other corrective laser eye surgery options which may be better and still deliver the clear vision.
Isn’t LASIK Surgery Expensive?
Not all vision insurance will cover the costs of LASIK surgery. However, you might be surprised there are budget-friendly financing options that make LASIK and other laser surgeries very affordable for everyone.
If you have VSP insurance, you may qualify for promotional pricing through VSP on laser eye surgery procedures. You can also use your Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flex Spending Account (FSA) dollars to pay for laser eye surgery.
To find out if you meet prescription qualifications for LASIK and are an ideal candidate or to learn more about other laser eye surgery procedures for better vision, please feel free to contact Dougherty Laser Vision at (805) 864-5448 today!
