Laser eye surgery has helped millions of people, including residents of Wichita, regain clear, sharp vision and removed the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. The accuracy of lasers joined with computer technology has made the surgery safer than ever and has shortened recovery times. However, there are some things a person needs to take into account before they choose laser eye surgery.
Overall Health
A person who wants laser eye surgery should enjoy generally good mental and physical health. They should have realistic expectations about laser eye surgery and not have pre-existing conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune diseases or a collagen vascular disorder. These disorders can also be autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
A candidate who is interested in laser eye surgery in Wichita needs to be at least 18. They shouldn’t need to take medication such as anticoagulants that can interfere with their healing from the eye surgery and should tell their doctor if they’ve ever had problems healing after surgery. Women who are pregnant or nursing should wait until they stop nursing or have the baby before they have laser eye surgery.
Health of the Eyes
Even though they are contemplating having surgery on their eyes, people who want laser surgery should have otherwise healthy eyes. This means the eyes should be free of diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts or problems with the cornea such a keratoconus. Ideally, the eyes should not have conditions such as strabismus, amblyopia or dry eye. The cornea of the candidate should not be too thin. According to ophthalmologists, it should be at least 0.5 millimeters thick.
The vision of a candidate for laser eyes surgery needs to have been stable for at least a year. This means that the prescription of the contact lenses or glasses should not have changed in that time. They must also stop wearing contact lenses for a time before their surgery because contact lenses can change the shape of the cornea.
Types of Refractive Errors
Laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism, mild to severe types of near-sightedness and moderate types of far-sightedness. It does this by reshaping the eyeball so that light falls precisely on the center of the retina in the back of the eye.
Even if the person who wants laser eye surgery believes they meet the criteria for being a good candidate, they still have to have a consultation with the eye surgeon. This will involve an eye exam which can uncover any hidden problems. Glaucoma, for example, is often asymptomatic in its early stages.
Call Us for Laser Eye Surgery in Wichita
If you want laser eye surgery to correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism, get in touch with us today at Wichita Vision Institute set up a consultation with Dr. Reena Patel.