Laser eye surgery is an excellent option if you are a candidate

Published on 3rd May 2010

Certainly, if it is possible for you to get laser vision correction to improve your vision it is something that will make your life much easier and may improve your vision immensely. Laser eye surgery is not necessarily available to everybody who has vision problems however, and you may want to investigate whether or not you are eligible.

There are certain groups that are almost never eligible for LASIK eye surgery. It is almost never performed on children except in extreme cases. If you have a child that suffers from lazy eye, then an ophthalmologist may choose to use LASIK eye surgery in this instance but even that is rare. It is sometimes used to correct vision in teens, but this is only after the doctor as determined that the eyes are fully developed.

Something else that will be checked when you go for a consultation is whether or not your prescription has stabilized. The general rule of thumb is that a person's prescription must remain the same for at least a period of one year prior to undergoing laser eye treatment.

The type of vision problem that you have may also affect whether or not laser eye surgery is a viable option. It can be used to correct both nearsightedness and farsightedness and in some cases it will also be used to rectify astigmatism. One problem that laser eye surgery cannot correct is presbyopia. This is a condition that necessitates reading glasses for objects that are very close to the eye. It is caused by an inability of the muscles in the eye to adjust and therefore cannot be improved with laser vision correction methods.

Certain underlying conditions may also prevent people from getting laser eye surgery. If you have had a history of cataracts, corneal scarring, glaucoma or dry eye syndrome, you might not be eligible for laser eye surgery. If you have questions about it, consult with a qualified ophthalmologist who will be able to determine whether or not it is something that can be treated. In some cases, LASIK eye surgery may be available at some point down the road for people in this situation.

All eye surgical procedures carry a level of risk including not obtaining the desired outcome, through to varying levels of visual loss. Your eye surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits, including ones specific to your circumstances, at the time of your pre-operative consultation.