Eye dysfunction causes discomfort and greatly affects the quality of life. Even though it is a challenge indeed, it is easy to overcome when you rely on professionals. LASIK surgery is one of the most effective treatment methods in this case. Professionals from Mann Eye Institute will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the most essential things to know about LASIK surgery: when you need it, at what age it is allowed, and many other things.
LASIK Surgery: What Is It and Is It Right for You?
LASIK surgery is an advanced eye treatment procedure. The laser alters the shape of the clear outer layer of the eye, the cornea, correcting vision distortion. Refractive errors affect how the light passes through the lens and cornea. These errors can cause different eye diseases:
- Nearsightedness, also called myopia, occurs when near objects are clear but distant objects are blurry.
- Farsightedness, also called hyperopia, results in vision in which distant objects are clear, but near objects are blurry.
- Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens is irregularly shaped. This effect results in blurry vision at all distances.
The main aim of LASIK surgery is to correct refractive distortions, helping a patient regain the original quality of vision or at least maximize it. The surgeon uses a laser to create a flap in the outer layers of the cornea, reshape its components, and correct any distortions, as the case may be. The flap is closed after treatment.
Discomfort is minimal during this procedure. It takes 1-2 days to come back to the typical daily routine; however, with some restrictions. This treatment has decent results, allowing patients to regain their good vision in 99% of cases. Occasionally, some extra corrections may be required.
The complications are rare, especially when the advanced treatment techniques and equipment are applied. The most common, unpleasant side effect is dry eye. However, it never lasts more than several months; usually, it takes only several weeks for an eye to fully restore.
LASIK surgery allows a patient to regain clear vision and stop wearing glasses or contact lenses. However, it is justifiable to note that LASIK surgery is not always the right fit for everyone. Each case has to be assessed individually. Only the doctor decides whether the patient’s condition allows them to undergo this treatment.
What is the Best Age for LASIK Surgery?
Age is a significant constraint if you want to undergo this treatment. For instance, it is not acceptable for anyone under 18. However, overall, there is no strict age range for LASIK surgery. Your doctor has to assess your case individually, while these are the most important aspects to pay attention to:
● Lasik surgery 18-24. While legally this procedure has been approved by the FDA for people who are over 18, doctors usually advise waiting at least several years. The best option is to undergo this treatment at the age of 24+. The reason is that eyesight continues to change during this period of life. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean you have a chance to regain your original vision. It only means that follow-up changes in eye vision may affect the results of LASIK surgery. Most often, this treatment is recommended for people between the ages of 18 and 24 who require it due to their duties: military service, law enforcement, professional sports, etc.
● Lasik surgery 25-40. This time frame is the perfect fit for the LASIK surgery for a reason. The vision of people over 25 is already stabilized, including their lens or eyeglass prescription. Their stable prescription greatly increases the success rate of the future surgery.
● Lasik surgery 40-55. Even if you are lucky enough to preserve your excellent vision for your lifetime, with a high degree of certainty, it will worsen after you turn 40. However, in this case, age never makes a patient eligible for this treatment. The doctors focus more on their actual health state, including the family history of corneal disorders, diabetes, glaucoma, and similar diseases.
● Lasik surgery 55+. Even though there is no upper limit for seniors to undergo this treatment, doctors usually approach these patients more attentively and consider multiple factors to determine their eligibility. Professionals assess all possible variables, including medications taken.
Factors That Professionals Consider
Assessing the overall patient’s state is essential for the future success of surgery, and the condition of their cornea is first. Among the variety of factors, there are certain must-haves that professional doctors always pay special attention to:
- damaged or thinned cornea or a family history of diseases of the cornea;
- dry eyes since this state can only worsen after LASIK surgery;
- history of injury, diseases, or viral infections of the eyes;
- glaucoma, which is a disease of the optic nerve;
- cataract, which is caused by cloudy lenses;
- the state of the immune system, in particular, autoimmune diseases, lupus, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases;
- diabetes, depending on how it is managed;
- certain heart conditions or medicine taken to treat heart conditions.
There are also many other factors that professional surgeons assess before deciding about the patient’s eligibility. Each case should always be assessed individually.
PROs and CONs of Lasik Surgery: Quick Review
LASIK surgery is a good choice because of these advantages:
- It is fast and safe, especially when performed with advanced tools and equipment. This procedure may take about 20 minutes.
- Results come quickly and last for years. You will be able to see clearly the next day. On top of that, you will resume most of your usual activities within 48 hours.
- You can further live without glasses or lenses.
Lasik surgery also has these disadvantages:
- Not everyone is eligible, including those over a certain age.
- Some post-treatment inconveniences are possible. Dry eyes, for instance, may last for several months after treatment. Other side effects, such as nighttime glare or halos, are possible as well.
Bottom Line
LASIK surgery is an advanced, fast, and reliable treatment technique that allows patients to regain their clear vision as soon as possible. While it needs careful prior assessment and preparation, this treatment procedure demonstrates exceptional results. If you want to forget about bad vision, glasses, or lenses, consult a professional doctor to determine your eligibility. The treatment is quick yet rewarding for many years to come!
This article was written for WHN by Lori, a wordsmith and content creator who likes to share helpful information that engages and empowers readers.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
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