Optilase Laser Eye Clinics are the leading provider of Laser Eye Surgery in Northern Ireland. They use only the most advanced equipment, and provide a free consultation to every potential patient to determine whether or not you may be a candidate for Laser Eye Surgery.
Refractive or laser eye surgery isn’t right for everybody, so after assessing your eye problem and discussing your expectations of surgery, the Optometrist at Optilase will tell you if it’s recommended for you, or if it’s not going to help you after all.
The standard elements for a good laser eye surgery candidate usually include:
- You’re at least 18 years of age
- Your vision needs have been stable vision over at least the past year
- No history or findings of corneal disease
- No significant medical or eye problems, such as previous corneal ulcers, keratoconus (a progressive thinning of the cornea), diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, or glaucoma
- You’re not pregnant, or currently nursing
- Your current prescription within is certain limits set by your eye surgeon
A good candidate also is one who, despite expecting improved vision, understands that perhaps they may still have to wear glasses in certain situations, like driving at night time.
Age
Patients under age 18 rarely have stable enough vision to make a determination for Laser Eye Surgery; the eye issues are still developing. So too with older patients, who may begin to develop cataracts or other eye health issues that preclude them from undergoing LASIK.
Your free eye exam and consultation with Optilase will reveal whether or not you’d make a good candidate.
Stable Vision
Small changes in your prescription from year-to-year are common. If, however, your prescription is getting progressively stringer every year, you may not be a good candidate for Laser Eye Surgery.
Significant Medical Issues
Certain advanced autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, may have a negative effect on post-operative healing, so you need to have a discussion with the Optilase staff to see if you are a viable candidate for Laser Eye Surgery. The team will not do anything that might compromise your daily health and functionality.
Keratoconus is a corneal disease resulting from decreased corneal strength that can be detected as an abnormal curvature on testing. Patients that have evidence of keratoconus are not candidates for LASIK or surface ablation, but new technologies may become available for these individuals.
Contact Sports
Could your recreational activities make you a poor surgical candidate? There is a lifelong risk of LASIK flap dislocation if there is significant trauma to the eye, so people who participate in contact sports such as boxing, martial arts, or wrestling might not be a good candidate for LASIK.
You have other options, though; discuss other refractive procedures with your Optilase team. With a free consultation, it makes sense to go to Optilase to discover quickly and easily if you can put aside your corrective eyewear-just give them a call to find the Optilase Clinic nearest you on 1 890 301 302.
