Many people require either glasses or contacts to be able to see correctly. Some need correction for far away, and others need correction to see up close. For many years, glasses and contacts were the only ways to correct your vision. Today, there is another option; Lasik laser surgery.

 

 

What Is Lasik Eye Surgery?

Lasik eye surgery uses a laser to reshape the cornea so that light can enter the eye to be appropriately focused onto the retina. This results in clearer vision. Lasik can be used to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.

Who Is a Good Candidate For Lasik?

If you are considering getting Lasik surgery, your eye doctor needs to make sure that you are a good candidate. Exams are performed ahead of time to make sure that your eyes are right for the procedure. A few things the eye doctor will look for include:

• Your prescription must fit into the acceptable parameters. The FDA has approved the procedure for people with a prescription of up to -11.00 for nearsightedness, up to +5.00 for farsightedness, and up to 5.00D of astigmatism. If you don't fit in these parameters, you would not be a good candidate.

• Your eyes need to be mature to qualify for the procedure. Some eye doctors will do it when you are at least 18-years-old and others when you are at least 21-years-old.

• Your eyes must be healthy and free of disease to be a good candidate for the procedure. If you have glaucoma, macular degeneration, or any other disease of the eye, you would not be a good candidate. If you suffer from dry eye, your eye doctor would need to determine how serious the condition is before they discover whether or not you would be a good candidate.

Preparing For Lasik Surgery

If your eye doctor determines that you are a good candidate for surgery, there are a few things that you will need to do to prepare.

• Stop wearing your contacts for four weeks before the surgery.

• Don't wear eye makeup on the day of the procedure.

• Wear comfortable clothing but nothing that sheds or has loose fibers.

• Don't drink alcohol or take medications that might make you drowsy the day before the procedure.

• Arrange for a ride home.

• Arrive early. There will be paperwork that needs to be filled out as well as an intake procedure. You should make sure that you arrive early enough to get all of this done before the procedure begins.

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If you are tired of wearing glasses or contacts, you should make an appointment at Vivid Vision in Fort Saskatchewan. Dr. Breanna Fletcher is a leader in optometry and is happy to care for any of your eye needs. Our optometry team can also do an exam to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for Lasik.