Am I a Candidate for LASIK?
The best way to determine if you're a candidate for LASIK eye surgery is by scheduling a free consultation with a LASIK and LENS Network provider. The good news is that most people between the ages of 18 to 55 are great candidates for LASIK.
Even if LASIK isn’t right for you, our providers specialize in a variety of vision correction options, so we can help you find the procedure that best suits your needs.
Who’s a Good Candidate for LASIK?
Most people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism are excellent candidates for LASIK. However, eye health, prescription stability, and lifestyle factors play a role in determining if LASIK is right for you.
Key factors that determine LASIK eligibility include:
- Age: Most LASIK candidates are between the ages of 18 to 55.
- Stable Prescription: Your prescription should have remained stable for at least 12 months.
- Healthy Eyes: No history of serious eye conditions (like glaucoma or cataracts).
- Corneal Thickness: Adequate corneal thickness is needed for the procedure to be safe and effective.
Find out if LASIK is right for you
It only takes 60 seconds to explore your vision correction options
What to Expect From Your LASIK Consultation
Scheduling a free consultation at a provider near you is the first step to determining if LASIK is right for you. During the visit, you'll undergo a thorough eye exam, which includes checking key factors such as corneal thickness, pupil size, and overall eye health. You’ll also have the opportunity to discuss your vision goals and medical history, ensuring that LASIK aligns with your unique needs and expectations.
What Can LASIK Eye Surgery Treat?
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is an advanced form of laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea, correcting common refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. By adjusting the shape of the cornea, LASIK helps light focus properly on the retina, providing clearer vision and reducing the need for glasses or contact lenses.
No matter which refractive error you have, LASIK offers a long-term solution for clearer vision. The LASIK and LENS Network connects you with top LASIK providers who specialize in advanced laser eye surgery, helping you achieve better vision and see more clearly.
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
In a myopic eye, the eye is usually too long, or the cornea is too steep, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This results in blurry distance vision. LASIK can treat myopia by flattening the cornea, allowing light to focus directly on the retina, which improves clarity for distant objects.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
In a hyperopic eye, the eye is often too short, or the cornea is too flat, causing light to focus behind the retina. This leads to difficulty seeing objects up close. LASIK can correct hyperopia by steepening the cornea, allowing light to focus properly on the retina, enhancing near vision and providing clearer focus for nearby objects.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea has an irregular shape, resembling more of a football than a sphere. This irregularity causes light to scatter instead of focusing on a single point, resulting in blurred vision at all distances. LASIK can reshape the cornea to make it more symmetrical, so that light can focus correctly onto the retina, reducing or eliminating the blurriness caused by astigmatism.