Most Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK Surgery

If you have common questions about LASIK surgery, Batal Specialized Center has the answers. From start to finish, you’ll have a team of eye care experts providing you with top-quality ophthalmology care.

Read also: Causes and Risk Factors of Irregular Astigmatism

Can LASIK Get Rid of My Reading Glasses?

Whether you needed glasses or contact lenses when you were younger or not, once you reach around age 45, most people gradually begin to lose their ability to read clearly or focus on close objects.

This is called presbyopia, and it’s simply a natural part of aging. As we get older, the eye’s natural lens becomes stiffer and loses its flexibility to change shape, which causes difficulty with near vision. Unfortunately, if you’re middle‑aged and want to see clearly at distance, LASIK will not prevent presbyopia.

Read also: What Is Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome?

At What Age Can You Have LASIK? One of the Top Questions About LASIK

To undergo LASIK, patients must be at least 18 years old and have stable vision. Stable vision is important to help ensure your prescription doesn’t change after LASIK and to reduce the likelihood that you’ll need an enhancement (a touch‑up procedure).

“Stable vision” generally means little to no change in your prescription for at least one year before your LASIK consultation. Many people wonder, “Am I too old to have LASIK?” The good news is that there is no upper age limit. During your LASIK consultation, your surgeon will go over all the pros and cons related to your age and overall eye health.

Read also: Everything You Want to Know About Night Blindness

Can I Have LASIK If I’m Breastfeeding?

With all the demands of new motherhood, many women are interested in LASIK to avoid the daily hassle of glasses or contact lenses. However, breastfeeding mothers need to wait a few months after they stop nursing before starting the LASIK evaluation process.

Pregnancy‑ and breastfeeding‑related hormones can cause temporary changes in the eyes that lead to fluctuating vision. To achieve the best and most stable visual outcome, pregnant or breastfeeding women should wait at least three months after delivery or after stopping breastfeeding before coming in for a LASIK consultation.

Read also: Stye (Hordeolum) | Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate for LASIK?

This is one of the most common LASIK questions. Many different factors are considered when determining whether someone is a good candidate for laser vision correction. When you’re evaluating your suitability for LASIK, it’s essential that the surgeon performs advanced testing and personally reviews your results.

At Batal Specialized Center, we understand that each person has unique visual needs and goals. That’s why it’s important for the surgeon to discuss these needs and expectations with you before scheduling surgery. Very thin or irregular corneas, high refractive errors, severe dry eye disease, or other eye conditions can sometimes prevent you from being an ideal LASIK candidate.

However, in many cases, newer technologies and more advanced refractive surgery options available at Batal Specialized Center can provide alternative solutions.

Read also: Why Do My Eyes Water When I Lie Down? | Causes and Treatment

What Happens During a LASIK Consultation?

During your LASIK evaluation, our specialized teams at Batal Specialized Eye Center perform a series of advanced tests and collect your individualized measurements.

The first tests focus on the cornea and include corneal topography (mapping), tomography, and wavefront analysis. We then measure your refractive error using manifest refraction, and we dilate your pupils to evaluate for cataracts, check for glaucoma, and examine the retina.

To ensure accurate testing, we ask that you stop wearing contact lenses for about one to three weeks before your LASIK evaluation, depending on the type of lenses you use.

Pupil dilation can last anywhere from a few hours up to 24 hours. For your safety, patients should arrange for someone to drive them home after the LASIK evaluation.

Once all the testing is complete, you’ll meet with your surgeon to review and discuss your LASIK assessment results and to ask any questions you may have. From there, you can decide when to schedule your LASIK procedure.

Read also: When Can I Rub My Eyes After LASIK?

Can I Wear My Contact Lenses Before a LASIK Consultation?

Contact lenses change the shape of the cornea—the part of the eye that LASIK reshapes. To obtain accurate measurements and test results, you must stop wearing contact lenses for about one to three weeks before your LASIK evaluation, depending on the type of lenses you wear.

Accurate testing provides better measurements, which improves visual outcomes and reduces the chance that you’ll need an enhancement (a LASIK retreatment) after surgery. When you schedule your LASIK consultation, the coordinator will help you determine how long you need to leave your contact lenses out.

Read also: Can Poor Eyesight Cause Dizziness? | Causes of Double Vision and How to Treat It

Whatever eye problems or visual defects you have, this delicate medical condition requires careful examination and the right treatment by a skilled, experienced ophthalmologist using effective medical technologies that deliver real results. Whatever eye disease you’re dealing with, you can book an appointment at Batal Specialized Center for a thorough eye examination and to begin addressing your eye problems, whatever they may be.