Most people assume that when it comes to undertaking eye surgery (usually involving lasers), the entrance criteria are rather simple; you have worn glasses for a long time, and you want to have eye surgery. Easy peasy!
Of course, that is not always the case, and clinically, it is a little bit more complicated than that. Although eye surgery has come leaps and bounds in the last 20 years with the use of lasers, there are still complications that can arise if anybody goes in for these treatments without preop screening, which can actually lead to worsening vision as well as eye infections.
So, if you want to have eye surgery, you will need to ensure that you are suitable with the help of a trained optician. What do you need to have to get the best results from your eye surgery? Read on to find out!
Stable Refractive Error
When it comes to undertaking eye surgery, you will need to have a stable refractive error.
In simple terms, this means that the lens prescription of your glasses should not have changed within the last 2 years, as fluctuating vision is likely to impact the long-term success of the surgery.
As a heads up, there are 4 types of refractive errors, the first being near-sightedness or myopia, far-sightedness or hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. So, if you have any of these and have not needed to have your glasses changed in the last few years, then you are already ticking the box of laser eye surgery suitability.
Medication
As surprising as it may be for many people, there are an array of medications that can negatively impact your eyesight. So, if you are taking any of these medications, you are not likely to be a suitable candidate for eye surgery. If you are taking medications such as warfarin, diuretics, antihistamines, statins, beta-blockers, some types of antidepressants, and birth control pills, then you will need to talk to your doctor as soon as you can about potential medication changes that will not impact negatively on any eye surgery.
Age
In general, the majority of eye surgeons who will perform eye surgery want candidates who are at least 18 years old when they undertake laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and 21 years old for photorefractive keratectomy. Indeed if you are over a certain age, you may be experiencing presbyopia which is usually associated with being over the age of 60 and will limit the types of eye surgery that you can undertake successfully.
Eye Health
Unsurprisingly, if you are looking to have eye surgery, you need to have health eyes. This means you should not have any pre-existing eye diseases or conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, or severe dry eye. This is important, as these conditions could increase the risk of complications following your surgery, so be sure to stay up to date with your eye tests before you undertake any eye surgeries to prevent disappointment or rejection when you apply for treatment.
If you still aren’t sure, head to the professionals themselves for a chat.
