Are you tired of dealing with contact lens care? Longing to wake up and see clearly without reaching for your glasses? Then you’ve probably started looking into Denver laser eye surgery. One of the first questions is whether or not you’re a good candidate.
LASIK and other forms of laser vision correction can reduce dependence on glasses or contacts for many people, but your prescription is only one piece of the decision. Your eye health, corneas, lifestyle, and even our Colorado climate can influence whether your primary eye doctor recommends taking the next step with a refractive surgeon.
At True Eye Care, we help Denver patients understand those factors before they commit to surgery. Here’s what we’re looking for:
Who’s a Good Candidate for Laser Eye Surgery?
Many healthy adults with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism may be candidates for laser vision correction. A good candidate typically has healthy eyes, a prescription that has remained relatively stable, and a clear understanding of what the procedure can realistically achieve.
Age is something to consider too. LASIK is FDA-approved for adults 18 and older, although many people wait until their prescription has stopped changing. In fact, the FDA considers a prescription change within the past year a sign of refractive instability. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also cause temporary vision changes, so your doctor may recommend waiting until your prescription has stabilized.
Your primary eye doctor can help you look beyond the prescription itself. They’ll consider the health of your eyes, your medical history, and how you use your vision every day to determine whether it makes sense to take the next step toward a consultation with a refractive surgeon. The surgeon will then perform the additional testing needed to determine whether you’re a candidate for a specific procedure.
Your Prescription Is Only Part of the Picture
Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea, the clear tissue at the front of your eye, so that means you need to have enough corneal tissue. During your surgical evaluation, your refractive surgeon will assess your corneal shape and thickness and check for conditions such as keratoconus, which causes the cornea to thin and bulge outward.
A comprehensive eye exam with your primary eye doctor can also uncover issues you may not know you have. Someone with a strong, stable prescription and healthy-looking eyes may discover early dry eye or another concern that changes the conversation.
Denver’s Dry Climate Makes Dry Eye Especially Important
Dry eye deserves extra attention when you’re considering Denver laser eye surgery. We have a semi-arid climate and average only about 15 inches of precipitation per year. If you already deal with burning eyes after a windy afternoon, blurry vision after hours at your computer, or contact lenses that feel uncomfortable by dinner, tell your primary eye doctor.
LASIK can worsen existing dry eye and may cause new symptoms after surgery. In some cases, treating dry eye first can improve the health of the eye’s surface before you move forward with a surgical evaluation.
True Eye Care provides dry eye management for patients experiencing ongoing symptoms, including those considering refractive surgery.
What Does Your Colorado Lifestyle Look Like?
Think about what a normal Saturday looks like for you. Are you skiing in the winter? Cycling the Cherry Creek Trail when the weather warms up? Heading to Rocky Mountain National Park for a hiking weekend? Your hobbies can factor into which procedure makes sense.
This is especially relevant for people who participate in activities where eye or facial trauma is possible. LASIK creates a thin flap in the cornea that is repositioned after the eye is reshaped. A hard impact to the eye can potentially disturb that flap, particularly during the healing period. PRK uses a different approach that does not create a corneal flap, which may make it worth discussing with your refractive surgeon if you have a higher risk of eye injuries.
What Could Make You a Poor Candidate for Denver Laser Eye Surgery?
We’ve already covered how your prescription, corneal health, dry eye, and lifestyle can affect your candidacy. There are a few other factors your refractive surgeon will need to consider. Even if your prescription can be corrected with LASIK, certain health and eye conditions may affect whether surgery is safe or likely to give you the results you want.
- Certain eye conditions or previous eye surgery: A history of glaucoma, inflammation inside the eye, eye injuries, or previous refractive surgery can require additional evaluation. These factors don’t always rule out laser vision correction, although they may affect which procedures are appropriate.
- Health conditions or medications that affect healing: Diabetes, some autoimmune conditions, and certain medications can interfere with the body’s ability to heal after surgery. Your refractive surgeon will need a complete medical history to assess those risks.
- Activities with a high risk of eye injury: Boxing, martial arts, wrestling, and similar activities where blows to the face are common deserve a conversation with your refractive surgeon. Your lifestyle may influence which type of refractive surgery they recommend.
Having one of these risk factors doesn’t automatically close the door on vision correction. Your primary eye doctor may recommend addressing an existing eye health concern before referral. Your refractive surgeon may recommend waiting until your vision stabilizes or considering a different procedure based on your eyes.
Start With a Comprehensive Eye Exam in Denver
Before comparing Denver laser eye surgery providers, find out what’s actually going on with your eyes. During a comprehensive exam, we can evaluate your current prescription, eye health, and signs of dry eye. We can also talk about your daily life.
If laser vision correction looks like a good option, you can move into a consultation with a refractive surgeon with a much better understanding of your eye health and what to ask. Our guide to finding a LASIK doctor explains what to look for when comparing providers. You can also learn more about LASIK eye surgery costs in Denver before making your decision.
Ready for that next step? Schedule a comprehensive eye exam with True Eye Care and let’s get you seeing your best.
