What Disqualifies You For LASIK Eye Surgery?

Many patients spend too much time and money on eye examinations, contact lenses, and frames for glasses. Through LASIK surgery, you can achieve great vision right away and get rid of your visual aids. LASIK (also called laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a laser eye surgery procedure that can address common issues, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. At Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center, we can discuss if you are a LASIK surgery candidate.

LASIK eligibility depends on many factors, including your personal health and any current conditions that are affecting your eyesight. During an examination, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Young H. Choi is proud to offer LASIK eye surgery for patients in the Birmingham, AL area with the Zeiss VisuMax® femtosecond laser. This allows for optimal precision and results. If you are ready to schedule a LASIK consultation, contact a member of our team. We can help you can see clearly for the first time.

Who is a LASIK surgery candidate?

LASIK surgery is appropriate for Birmingham, AL patients with a mild to moderate degree of impaired vision. A trained ophthalmologist should confirm whether or not a patient is an ideal candidate for LASIK. When you meet with Dr. Choi, we can go over your medical history and medication use. If you have a serious condition that affects your eyes or how your body heals, we may wait until that has been resolved. Some examples include conjunctivitis (pink eye) or an injury to the eye. Other conditions, such as dry eyes and diabetes, will also need to be discussed. Once we assess your ocular health, we can help you determine when to get LASIK eye surgery.

When to get LASIK eye surgery

Teenagers and young adults sometimes experience changes in their prescription from year to year. This is why LASIK surgery candidates should be at least 18 years old with stable vision for at least 12 months before the procedure. Dr. Choi or a member of our knowledgeable eye care team can tell you if your prescription is stable enough.

LASIK improves visual acuity by reshaping the cornea, or the front surface of the eye. Performing this procedure on a cornea that is too thin or irregular could compromise the final outcome and impair your vision. If this is the case, Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center can review your options and give you information about how to move forward.

How is LASIK performed?

So how is LASIK performed at our facility? Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center uses advanced VisuMax femtosecond technology to provide optimal safety and accuracy. LASIK is an outpatient procedure that usually takes about 30 minutes to complete. To begin the surgery, our staff will numb the eyes with a special solution. Dr. Choi then places a ring-shaped device on the eye to prevent blinking. The laser creates a small flap in the cornea, through which the correct shape will be made. When this is finished, the flap will be placed carefully back into position. Most Birmingham, AL patients do not experience any discomfort in the process.

What to expect after LASIK

Once the anesthetic wears off, you may feel grittiness or a stinging sensation in your eyes. Even though it is tempting to rub your eyes, this is particularly dangerous after LASIK eye surgery. The staff at Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center can give you helpful instructions and guidelines about what not to do during the recovery period, including touching your eyes. Taking a long nap is the best way to rest and protect the eyes for the first few hours.

Most patients will experience small bouts of blurry vision and difficulty seeing at night over the next 7 – 14 days. Sensitivity to light is also common during this process. These side effects are temporary, but to be expected as the tissues heal. An antibiotic medication and moisturizing eye drops are also prescribed to assist with optimal healing. Remember to attend any follow-up appointments with Dr. Choi as necessary.

Schedule a LASIK consultation

LASIK eye surgery offers a wealth of benefits for people who wear glasses or contact lenses. This means LASIK may be able to improve your quality of life. Experience the freedom of perfect vision by visiting Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center. If you have been diagnosed with farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism and are interested in learning about your options, schedule a LASIK consultation with Dr. Young H. Choi in Vestavia Hills, AL. We can let you know when to get LASIK eye surgery and whether or not you are a candidate.