Am I a Candidate?

Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. Advanced wavefront diagnostics will help us determine your candidacy when you come in for an evaluation. Your eyes will be thoroughly examined to determine whether LASIK or another refractive procedure is appropriate for you, and whether you are at risk for any complications.  

The ideal LASIK candidate:

• Is over 18 years old;
• Has had stable vision for at least six months;
• Has a healthy cornea thick enough for a flap;
• Has refractive error(s) that fall within the treatable range;
• Does not have a disease or condition that could impair the procedure or healing process;
• Has been educated about the procedure including its risks and benefits.
• Understands that the goal of surgery is to improve vision and reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses.

Your refractive error, occupation, leisure activities, age and personal expectations all help to determine whether you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery. You must have realistic expectations and understand that vision correction procedures are not always perfect. For most patients, refractive surgery offers the opportunity to function normally without glasses or contact lenses. While it is impossible to guarantee 20/20 vision with every vision correction procedure many patients do achieve 20/20 and say they see better than ever. In some cases it may be necessary to wear a thin pair of glasses at certain times such as driving at night. Don't forget if you are over 40, you likely have presbyopia and will need glasses for near work, unless you are successful at monovision.

Why Refractive Surgery May NOT Be Right for You.
If you expect a perfect outcome.  No surgical procedure can assure you of a perfect result and it is not possible to guarantee that your goals will be achieved. At Joffe MediCenter, we strive to achieve the best results in surgical vision correction through professional and technological excellence. However, no refractive surgical technique is as accurate, predictable, or precise for correcting vision as spectacles or contact lenses.  

If you expect perfect vision under all conditions.

Refractive surgical procedures, work by changing the shape of the central portion of the cornea. It is not possible anatomically to change the shape of the entire cornea. Consequently, when your pupil enlarges at night, you may look through some of the unchanged (nearsighted) cornea, and your vision will become slightly nearsighted--or you may notice halos, ghost images, or other visual aberrations. Thus, you may need a thin pair of glasses (or contact lenses) to help you drive comfortably at night--or to see your best at the back of a movie theater. If you will be unhappy wearing eyewear for occasional needs, then refractive surgery is probably not for you.