If you need vision correction, the doctor can recommend various treatments, including eyeglasses and contact lenses. You can get laser surgery if you do not want to wear lenses. Many patients opt for surgery due to the convenience it provides. You can enjoy perfect vision without worrying about eyeglass prescriptions or caring for contact lenses. But laser eye surgery is not for everyone. 

Laser Vision Correction

Most people choose laser vision correction after several years of wearing eyeglasses or contacts. LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is the most common eye surgery that can help individuals to achieve 20/20 vision. The popular procedure has a good track record with very few complications. 

Side effects such as visual disturbances and dry eyes are usually temporary. They clear up in several weeks or months. The results usually depend on the refractive error and other eye health factors. Some people may need reading glasses as they get older. 

Other Types of Laser Surgery

Aside from LASIK, different types of laser vision correction techniques exist with distinct pros and cons. They include:

• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

• Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK)

• Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)

• Surgeons insert intraocular lenses after cataract surgery

During Laser Vision Correction

Before the procedure, the surgeon will assess eye measurements and overall eye health. After administering numbing eye drops, the surgeon uses a laser to change the cornea curvature. Your preference and circumstances will determine the best technique for you.

Get this treatment to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Reshaping the cornea creates the right refraction and provides vision correction. 

Is Vision Correction Right for You?

Eye doctors will consider various issues to determine if laser vision correction suits you. Good candidates for laser surgery include:

• Individuals with healthy eyes. Those with conditions keratoconus, dry eye, eye inflammation, glaucoma, and other disorders may not be good candidates. 

• Be in good general health. Some medical conditions can increase the risk of complications during surgery. 

• People with stable vision. If your vision is changing, you should wait to get laser surgery. Laser surgery is often recommended for adults whose prescription has stabilized. 

If you are on a particular medication, pregnant, or breastfeeding, you may experience fluctuations in your vision. Eye specialists recommend you wait to get the procedure. 

Poor Candidates for Laser Vision Correction 

Some individuals may not be ideal candidates for laser eye surgery, including those with chronic dry eye syndrome. Others are those below 18 years, diabetes patients, and those taking certain medications. 

You may not qualify for eye surgery if you have an autoimmune disease like lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome. People with large pupils are not good candidates. If you have severe myopia or a high refractive error, surgery might not offer the benefits you desire.

Surgery may be unnecessary if you have relatively good vision and need eyeglasses or contacts only in certain conditions. The benefits may not be worth the risk for people with presbyopia or age-related vision changes. Understand the risks and benefits of laser surgery before you get the procedure. 

For more on laser vision correction, call Coastal Vision at (888) 501-4496 to reach our Long Beach, California office.