Refractive Instability: If you were required to change either your glasses or contact lens prescription within the last year, you are more likely to have refractive instability. If the following represents your situation you’re also more likely to have refractive instability, so it’s important discuss possible risks with your physician:

• You’re 20 years old or younger,
• You have fluctuating hormones due to diseases such as diabetes,
• You’re pregnant and breastfeeding, or
• Your current medication causes fluctuations in your vision.

Your job prohibits refractive surgery. Make sure to check with your employer, military service, or professional society prior to any LASIK treatment. Refractive eye surgery could jeopardize your career, as some jobs prohibit the procedure.

You regularly participate in contact sports. Taking part in sports that may involve frequent blows to the face and eyes, such as wresting, boxing, and mixed martial arts would make you a poor candidate for LASIK surgery.

You’re not old enough. You must be at least 18 years old to have LASIK refractive eye surgery, as no LASIK lasers are currently approved for minors.

Cost. Although LASIK costs are becoming more and more reasonable it is still a relatively expensive surgery. This can be especially true since many health insurers don’t currently cover refractive eye surgery.

You are on medication or have a disease that could affect the healing process. Some medications and autoimmune diseases such as, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or myasthenia gravis, and such immunodeficiencies as HIV/AIDS or diabetes may all prevent the necessary healing process after LASIK surgery.

Precautions
The safety and effectiveness of LASIK eye surgery is still unknown when combined with certain diseases. Your LASIK surgeon should evaluate your situation if you have any history of the following:

• Herpes simplex or Herpes zoster (shingles) involving the eye area.
• Glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, or ocular hypertension.
• Eye diseases, such as uveitis/iritis (inflammations of the eye)
• Eye injuries or previous eye surgeries.
• Keratoconus

Other Factors to Consider
The following involve certain risks and should be evaluated accordingly by your physician:

• Dry Eyes
• Irritation of the eyelids with itching and scaly skin
• Blepharitis
• Large pupils (greater than 6.5 mm)
• Previous refractive surgery (e.g., RK, PRK, LASIK)
• Thin or warped corneas
• Genetic or metabolic problems affecting the cornea

Is LASIK Safe?
A large number of scientific studies have established that LASIK eye surgery is safe and effective for correcting low-to-moderate nearsightedness and astigmatism. It’s important to note, however, that in cases of moderate-to-high nearsightedness, predictability is harder to judge. In a small percentage of these less predictable cases, LASIK side effects are the result. These may include starbursts, dry eyes, haloes at night, or even reduced vision in dim light. Complications from LASIK eye surgery resulting in loss of vision are very rare. Some of these LASIK risks or side effects can be attributed to poor postoperative evaluation or malpractice, stressing the importance of working with a quality and reputable LASIK surgeon. Always consult with your opthalmologist to discuss whether LASIK is or isn’t appropriate for you and your unique situation.

You will know as early as your first visit whether the doctor is qualified to perform the procedure or not. This cannot be gauged by the number of certificates that he or she has displayed on the wall. What matters is how he or she talks to you and assesses your situation. An excellent LASIK doctor will be able to correctly evaluate whether you’re fit for the operation. If LASIK eye surgery is not appropriate for your eyes or your lifestyle, a good doctor will try his or her best to dissuade you. Compare this with a LASIK surgeon who claims to have extensive experience in the procedure, who will try his or her best to persuade you to have the procedure, even if you’re not right for it. A good LASIK MD will discuss with you your situation, medical history, and physical condition.

A good LASIK physician will also have a solid reputation. This is a natural consequence of taking good care of his or her patients. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about his or her track record or experiences. A doctor who advertises in the newspaper or other forms of media may not always have the competency that you deserve. As soon as you’ve found the doctor that seems right, conduct a thorough background investigation first before you schedule your surgery date. Some LASIK centers spend so much on advertising because they can’t get their patients to spread the word for them. Be wary of these LASIK clinics.

A quality LASIK doctor will commonly be very hands-on during the entire process, including doing most of the pre-operative preparation for the procedure. Whenever you make an appointment, a competent LASIK surgeon should welcome you and discuss extensively whatever concerns you may have. Listen closely to experiences of other LASIK patients if they have encountered clinics that seem to refuse to meet with patients after the surgery. This may indicate that they are not willing to be accountable for the mistakes they made.

During consultation with your prospective doctor, ask for instances when he or she discouraged the patient from having the procedure. This information is helpful in establishing the competency of the doctor when it comes to assessing which candidates are right for LASIK eye surgery. Your doctor should also have extensive experience. Look for one who has done approximately 1000 surgeries over their career, with about half of those being done over the last few years.

Finding a good LASIK doctor is the first step towards successful vision correction. Your eyes deserve all the attention and time you’re taking to ensure that you get only the best treatment.