It has helped millions of people enjoy a more carefree lifestyle by minimizing their dependence on prescription lenses. But is LASIK right for you? Find out whether this popular form of laser eye surgery might be a good fit for your needs by reviewing the following list of criteria.

Healthy Eyes

If you have an eye injury or a condition such as dry eyes or conjunctivitis, you need to wait until your eyes have healed or your condition has been treated before you undergo laser eye surgery. Conditions that may disqualify you completely from having LASIK include keratoconus, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Age 18 or Over

Your eyes must be fully matured before having your vision corrected with laser eye surgery. This means you need to wait until you are at least 18 (21 in some states) before undergoing LASIK.

Stable Prescription

To help ensure that you benefit fully from the LASIK procedure, your corrective lenses prescription must remain stable for at least a year prior to LASIK eye surgery.

General Good Health

Having a disease that may impede your ability to heal after LASIK could disqualify you from having the procedure. Examples of such diseases include type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes), HIV, AIDS, Sjogren's syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Pregnant or Breastfeeding?

Because a woman's eyes may change during pregnancy due to hormonal fluctuations and fluid retention, she should wait until her eyes have normalized after pregnancy before having LASIK. Women who are nursing should also postpone laser eye surgery since medications administered before and after surgery may transfer to breast milk.

Expert Evaluation

An ophthalmologist or LASIK surgeon can determine your candidacy for laser eye surgery after examining your eyes and reviewing your medical history. If you are interested in having laser eye surgery in the Seattle area, contact a qualified LASIK surgeon serving Tacoma and the surrounding areas.