Choosing the right form of corrective eye surgery
If you need corrective eye surgery, you may think your only option is LASIK, but the fact is that there are other forms of corrective eye surgery out there, it is just the best known, and most popular, right now. The following is a look at how to choose the right form of corrective eye surgery, and what you can do to make sure you choose the form right for you.
First, consider your age. The fact is that your eyes change as we age, and the type of laser eye surgery or other vision correction you need also may change. There are certain approaches to LASIK or other procedures that work well for younger adults, or for older adults, and may be inappropriate for others. Your eye care practitioner will usually inform you of this, and help you understand why you are not a good candidate for one type of corrective eye surgery, but it is good to do some research on your own so you know what to expect.
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Depending on your individual case, you may not be eligible for vision correction surgery of any kind. For example, if you are under the age of 18, no form of corrective eye surgery is really an option, as your eyes are still changing too rapidly, and thus are not stable for a long enough time to determine what changes will help you to regain or correct your vision best. Thus, waiting until you are in your mid-twenties is a far better option.
In addition to age, your health can play a role in which form of corrective eye surgery is going to be the best. There are certain conditions or diseases that could put you into the category of being a poor candidate for certain vision correction procedures and better candidates for other procedures. Let's look at some examples of this: For one, if you are a diabetic, or if you suffer from a similar disease that may affect how you heal from wounds, your eye care professional may inform you that you are a better candidate for PRK, or some of the older versions of LASIK then you are for other types of LASIK. The differences in procedure can make a world of difference in your ability to heal.
Of course, your eyes themselves, and the vision problem you suffer from is going to play a role in the form of corrective eye surgery that is best for you. If you have thin corneas, PRK, LASEK, or implantation of the Visian ICL or Verisyse lens are examples of procedures that may be more appropriate for you than LASIK. Again, you will be given a consultation with a professional before having any kind of corrective eye surgery, and they will evaluate which is best for you, but it is important that you understand what factors contribute to the decision so that you can help your physician know pertinent information about you and your health that may affect which surgery choice is best.
If you are pregnant you can't get eye surgery until after you have had your baby and stopped nursing, as the hormones may make it more difficult to accurately treat your eyes.
If you suffer from mild to moderate farsightedness, nearsightedness, and or astigmatism, and are not too young, or too old, you are usually excellent candidates for LASIK, PRK, Visian ICL, and other laser vision correction, and thus it is a matter of preference, or what your doctor is best at.
