For many people who suffer from vision impairment, the idea of waking up every day and seeing clearly sounds like a dream come true. Therefore, it’s only natural that so many people want to turn to LASIK eye surgery.
However, even though it can change many people’s lives for the better, and is considered safe, not everyone is an ideal candidate. It’s important that before you decide to go in for your consultation that you have realistic expectations. Therefore, here are 5 questions to ask yourself first.
Can You Afford It?
Although many factors can determine the total price, you can expect to pay at least $2300 per eye. Since it’s considered an elective procedure, it is not covered by most insurance plans.
Although there are some financing plans available, it will probably cost you at least $200 a month. Try to decide if you can comfortably pay this without breaking the bank. Otherwise, you should consider saving for the surgery and wearing glasses in the meantime.
Is Your Prescription Stable?
A lot of people’s prescriptions change regularly. Your vision should be stable in order for the procedure to work. If you get LASIK done and your eyes worsen drastically, then it doesn’t make sense.
For that reason, LASIK is only recommended for people at least 18 years old since it’s around that time that most people’s vision stabilizes.
Are Your Eyes Frequently Dry?
One of the side effects of LASIK is extremely dry eyes. Dry eyes can be painful and even lead to eye infections. Therefore, if you already suffer from dry eyes, then the procedure could make it worse.
Only your doctor will be able to determine whether they think it will worsen your condition or not.
How Strong Is Your Prescription?
If you have an extremely strong prescription for your glasses, then LASIK may not work for you. As a general rule of the thumb, the worse your eyes are, the thinner your cornea is, which increases the danger of the procedure.
If your eyes are particularly bad, you may want to discuss laser alternatives with your doctor.
Are You Pregnant?
If you have any questions whether you’re pregnant or not, you should confirm before going into surgery. If you’re expecting, it could be dangerous for the baby. For this reason, LASIK experts do not recommend getting LASIK when you’re pregnant. Additionally, your hormones could cause your eyes to be even drier than usual, complicating surgery.
If you’ve recently given birth, it’s not a good time either. You should wait at least three months until getting the surgery done. You want to ensure that your hormones have leveled out first.
Have you ever had LASIK done? Let us know in the comments below!
