Blog post by: Eye Physicians of Long Beach
There’s really nothing like summer in Lakewood. The weather is warm, the beaches are nearby, and the living is easy! But you know, summer in California isn’t as great as it could be if you wear glasses or contacts.
We bet you’ve even started thinking about whether you could be a candidate for LASIK. Keep reading for 5 signs you’re ready for LASIK!
1. You’re at least 18 years old
This is a basic LASIK tenet, no matter where you live: are you at least 18 years old? If you aren’t at least 18 years old, you cannot safely get LASIK.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying and they shouldn’t be performing LASIK, either! Blame it on puberty and your hormones. At 18, your body is still rapidly changing, and yes, this does include your eyes.
After the age of 18, your body starts calming down a little, and you get a better sense of where your vision really is. Even if you are 18, many LASIK surgeons still prefer you to be a little bit older.
This is to make sure your eyes really, truly have stopped changing and have stabilized! The ideal age to a LASIK surgeon for LASIK is usually a patient in their mid-twenties.
2. Do you have any conditions like dry eye that are already under control?
There are conditions that make you unlikely to be a LASIK candidate like keratoconus.
But when it comes to a condition like dry eye, there’s some gray area to maneuver. With dry eye, you need to have it under control before having LASIK.
So what does it mean to have your dry eye under control then? It means your symptoms shouldn’t bother you. Your eyes shouldn’t be red, irritated, or experience light sensitivity.
You may also be in the middle of completing a dry eye regimen or have completed one already. With a procedure like LASIK, it’s important to have dry eye under control because LASIK can make it worse.
Dry eye is one of the most common side effects that people experience when they have LASIK. These are temporary side effects, but if you already have dry eye, LASIK is going to make your symptoms worse.
That’s why it’s important to have your dry eye under control before LASIK!
3. Are you done having kids or done nursing?
If you’re currently pregnant or nursing, you need to wait to have LASIK. Like being at least 18, blame the hormones!
This time, you can thank your pregnancy hormones. Did you know that pregnancy hormones can change your eyes, at least temporarily?
This is the case for every single pregnancy! This is why if you want LASIK, the smartest thing you can do is wait to have it.
You also shouldn’t have LASIK until you’ve been done nursing for at least three months. To be safe, we recommend waiting a year.
That will give your eyes enough time to go back to their normal, stable selves after pregnancy. If you’re serious about the wonders of LASIK, don’t get it until you’re done having kids. Otherwise, you’re throwing your money away.
4. Your vision and prescription has stayed the same for over a year
Like being at least 18 years old, having stable vision is an extremely crucial factor! LASIK is an elective procedure, meaning your insurance company isn’t going to cover it.
That means you’re paying for it out of pocket. You need to be sure that when you get LASIK, your vision isn’t going to suddenly change after you get the procedure.
At your consultation, the stability of your prescription is one of the things checked. If your prescription hasn’t been stable for a year, your doctor won’t clear you as a LASIK candidate.
If it’s the stability of your prescription that’s standing in your way, you can wait a few years!
5. You’re tired of dealing with glasses and contacts
There’s nothing wrong with wearing glasses or contacts. Up until you started daydreaming about LASIK, it’s likely you felt the same way.
But like a seed, now the thought is planted and you can’t stop thinking about a life without glasses or contacts.
What would life be like without glasses? You could go for a run and not worry about them slipping down your nose, for starters!
Or you could roll out of bed in the morning without having to jab yourself in the eye to put your contact lenses in.
These are small things, but LASIK is great at making your life better in a million tiny little ways! After LASIK, most patients wonder how they ever lived without it.
This can be your reality too! You don’t have to let glasses and contacts hold you back any longer. The power is in your hands.
Ready to find out if you could be a LASIK candidate? Schedule your LASIK consultation with Eye Physicians of Long Beach in Lakewood, CA! Isn’t it time to make your clear vision dreams a reality?