If you don’t see as well as you would like to, you may have considered getting LASIK surgery. This surgery isn’t right for everyone, and you will need an evaluation from an optometrist to determine if surgery is an option. If you are interested in LASIK surgery, contact Ideal Family Eye Care in Chicago to speak with one of our optometrists. Let’s look at some of the factors to consider in regards to LASIK.
Your Overall Health
To be a good candidate for LASIK, you need to be relatively healthy. Many health conditions and diseases can mean that you aren’t a good candidate for this surgery. There are several immune system conditions, including HIV, that can preclude you from the surgery. Conditions like diabetes, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis can also exclude you. When you first see an optometrist about the surgery, we will take a health history in case you have any conditions that may complicate the surgery or make recovery more difficult.
Your Eye Health
Just as you will have to give a health history, you will also provide an eye health history as well as an eye exam. Your eyes should be healthy to get this surgery. If you have had surgery on your eyes before, or conditions like cataracts, you may not be a good candidate for LASIK. Furthermore, if you engage in activities that can cause injuries to your eyes, like playing football, you may be excluded. You also need to have a stable vision prescription that does not change every year.
Age Guidelines
LASIK surgery is not performed on pediatric patients. Most eye surgeons require their patients to be a minimum of 20 while others require them to be at least 21. It is more likely for people of this age to have a stable vision prescription and to be a good candidate for LASIK.
Contact Our Optometrists in Chicago, IL
If you live in Chicago and are considering LASIK to correct your vision, our eye doctors at Ideal Family Eye Care are here to help. Schedule your next eye exam today by calling us at (773) 774-2200 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.