Am I Suitable For Laser Eye Surgery?

What Is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery, also known as refractive surgery or laser vision correction, corrects vision problems with the use of laser technology. Laser eye surgery can treat vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism, helping to reduce the reliance on visual aids like glasses or contact lenses.

There are a few reasons why somebody may want to get laser eye surgery, such as transitioning away from visual aids, the desire to play sports with greater visual acuity or even saving costs in the long term without the need for expensive visual aids.

At betterview, we treat most refractive errors through our two main laser eye treatments: Trans-PRK and Femto-LASIK. Before you get laser eye surgery, our ophthalmologists will determine your laser eye surgery eligibility and which treatment option is best for you.

Who Can Get Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery suitability is dependent on a couple of things. First and foremost, you have to be over 18 years of age, as well as have a certain prescription range to qualify.

However, these are not the only criteria as things like your general health and corneal thickness also need to be taken into consideration before getting laser eye surgery.

Health

A basic requirement for being able to get laser eye surgery is that you’re in good health. But, what exactly does this mean?

There are certain conditions that may impact your laser eye surgery eligibility, such as (but not limited to) various autoimmune diseases, pre-existing eye conditions like cataracts or glaucoma, persistent dry eyes, and even diabetes.

What age can you get laser eye surgery? Well, it’s good to know that there is no specific recommended age for laser eye surgery, however, around 98% of 18 - 45-year-olds are eligible.

Age

There is also no definite laser eye surgery age limit, but your age does influence whether or not laser eye surgery is an option. For example, myopia and astigmatism normally begin to impact vision as early as the teenage years. Hyperopia can also begin in the teenage years but typically affects people over the age of thirty. All three of these vision issues can be treated through laser eye surgery at betterview.

Prescription

Eye prescription also determines who can have laser eye surgery or not. You’re likely suitable for laser eye surgery if your glasses prescription falls in the following range:

• Up to -10.00D of myopia.
• Up to +4.00D of hyperopia.
• Up to ±6.00D of astigmatism.

Of course, your laser eye surgery suitability based on your prescription will be assessed and confirmed by an ophthalmologist.

Another thing to keep in mind is how stable your prescription is. If your prescription has remained unchanged for more than a year, then you’re likely to be eligible for laser eye surgery as your vision is unlikely to change post-surgery.

Corneal Thickness

Since the process of laser eye surgery includes lasering the cornea to reshape it, your ophthalmologist will measure its thickness. They do this with a device known as a pachymeter.

This step is really important because your ophthalmologist will then know how much tissue can be lasered off in certain areas when correcting your vision. Plus, it’s another step to assessing your overall eye health before laser eye surgery.

What’s more, how thin or thick your cornea is can also determine which laser eye treatment is best suited to you. Those with thin corneas may still be eligible for laser eye surgery but may likely be instructed to get Trans-PRK surgery instead of Femto-LASIK.

Who Is Not Suitable For Laser Eye Surgery?

Although laser eye surgery can treat most vision problems, not everybody can get it. So, who should not have laser eye surgery?

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, your ophthalmologist will advise against getting laser eye surgery. This is because during pregnancy and when breastfeeding, hormonal changes can impact vision and even change your prescription. It’s recommended that you wait until after you’ve given birth or stopped breastfeeding to get laser eye surgery.

If you have cataracts then this will rule out your laser eye surgery eligibility. A cataract is when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy and can impact your vision in the long term. Although laser eye treatments like Femto-LASIK and Trans-PRK are not suitable to correct your vision, you can treat a cataract by removing and replacing the lens with a synthetic IOL (intraocular lens).

Ask betterview About Your Laser Eye Surgery Suitability

Effective, precise, and safe - get laser eye treatment in just four simple steps at betterview. Book a free, no-obligation appointment today to find out whether you’re eligible for laser eye surgery and what treatment is right for you.