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Your lifestyle is one of the most important factors to take into account as you consider whether or not LASIK is right for you. Individuals consider the option of LASIK for a variety of very personal reasons. While LASIK does not promise perfect vision, it does hold the promise of reducing one's dependence on contact lenses or glasses, which will allow many people to more freely pursue their hobbies, sports activities or career options.

Realistic Expectations

LASIK is an unbelievable advancement in technology and offers a great solution to poor eye sight for some people, but do not forget it is not for everyone! Some doctors ignore this fact, but a good laser eye surgeon will discuss your long term vision options with you. A laser eye surgeon should be able to determine if you're a good candidate by discussing your lifestyle, needs and goals, and overall health. Next, you should be put through Advanced Diagnostic Testing which will determine if your eyes are a good candidate for LASIK.

Some people think that LASIK will provide them with "perfect" vision. If your goal is to achieve "perfect" vision, then LASIK might not be right for you. While it is reasonable to expect greatly improved vision and a reduced dependency on glasses or contacts, it is not reasonable to expect that you will have "perfect" vision. In general, the results of LASIK surgery - how well a person sees after the procedure - will usually be comparable to how well they were able to see before the procedure with glasses or contacts. However, every patient heals differently and results may still vary. In the end, most patients are very happy with the procedure and recommend it to their friends. If you have realistic expectations about laser vision correction then you are likely to be very satisfied after LASIK.

General Criteria For A Good LASIK Candidate

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, you may be a good candidate for LASIK if you meet the following criteria:


o You should be at least 18 years old (21 for some lasers), since the vision of people younger than 18 usually continues to change.

o You should not be pregnant or nursing, as these conditions might change the measured refraction of the eye.

o You should not be taking certain prescription medications, such as Accutane® or oral Prednisone.

o Your eyes must be healthy and your prescription stable. If you are nearsighted, you should postpone LASIK until your refraction stabilizes, as nearsightedness can still increase in some patients until their mid- to late-20s.

o You should be in generally good health. LASIK may not be recommended for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or cataracts.

o Understand what your expectations are for the procedure. Are they realistic?

Most common reasons why LASIK is not right for almost 30% of people

o Unrealistic expectations (not satisfied with anything less than "perfect" vision)

o Eye health issues

o General health

o Thin corneas

o Unstable prescription

o Pre-cataract

o Prescription too high or too low

Advancements in LASIK technology have made it possible for many people to greatly reduce their use of contact lenses and glasses, in some cases entirely. Learning more about LASIK will give you realistic expectations for the procedure, and is a good approach to your long term vision needs. Unfortunately not everyone is a good candidate for laser eye surgery. The best way to determine if LASIK is right for you is by discussing your options with an eye care specialist in your local area.