What to Expect After a Macular Degeneration Diagnosis
If you’ve just gotten a diagnosis of macular degeneration, you’re probably worried about losing your vision and not sure what to expect. Here are a few tips to navigate the path ahead.
Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?
You’ve been wearing glasses or contacts for some time now, and while you’re grateful for improved eyesight, you keep wondering: can surgery improve this permanently?
You’ve heard about plenty of people who have had success with LASIK, but you don’t know yet if it’s right for you.
At Berkeley Heights Eye Group, our team gives patients personalized evaluations to determine if LASIK is a good fit for them.
Here’s what we tell our patients:
What is LASIK?
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in-situ karatomileusis. It’s a corrective procedure that reshapes your cornea so light refracts, or focuses, correctly onto your retina, improving your vision. It’s commonly used to treat several issues, including:
- Nearsightedness (myopia) - you have difficulty seeing object far away
- Farsightedness (hyperopia) - you have difficulty seeing objects close up
- Astigmatism - your cornea is misshapen, causing blurry vision
The procedure only takes about 15 minutes. Dr. Todd Leventhal puts anesthetizing eye drops in your eye and uses a laser to reshape your cornea to the correct dimensions based on your individual situation. You may have some discomfort and blurry vision at first, but you should begin to see better as soon as the next day.
What makes a good candidate?
The procedure can be life-changing for many people, but not everyone is an ideal candidate. Factors include:
Your prescription
Your prescription must fall within the treatable range for LASIK. If your vision is too bad and falls outside this range, the procedure won’t work well for you. Your prescription must also be stable, meaning it hasn’t changed within the last year.
Your eye health
Your eye must be in good health with no untreated diseases and no dry eye. You must also have reached ocular maturity, which usually means you must be at least 18, or in some cases 21.
Your general health
You must be in good overall health as well. Some health problems, such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or certain medications, can make healing after the procedure more difficult. Make sure to disclose this information during your consultation.
Your cornea
Because LASIK reshapes your cornea, it must be healthy and of a sufficient thickness. If it’s too thin or is misshapen, you would not be eligible.
Who is not a good candidate?
People may not be good candidates for LASIK due to several reasons:
- Certain health conditions (such as diabetes or glaucoma)
- An unstable, often-changing prescription
- Recurrent eye diseases or infections
- If you’re younger than 18-21
- If you’re pregnant or nursing
- If your job prohibits refractive procedures (such as the military)
If you’d like to schedule a personalized consultation to discuss LASIK, call the Berkeley Heights Eye Group office in New Providence, NJ, or request your own appointment time with our online scheduler.
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