The main restrictions that disqualify you for a LASIK procedure has been implemented for your own health and well being. Furthermore, it prevents the attending practitioner from any litigation that may arise as a result of the complications and side effects of LASIK.

Age

You must 18 years or older.

This criteria is usually in place to ensure that you make an informed decision about the LASIK eye surgery procedure as a more mature teen. More importantly, under the age of 18 years, normal growth and development of the eye could impact your long term vision if the LASIK procedure is conducted at an early age.

Chronic Conditions

You should not have any autoimmune diseases, be immunocompromised or suffer with diabetes

It is not advisable to undergo the LASIK procedure if you have any autoimmune condition, immunde deficiency or connective tissue disease as this may hamper your body’s healing time and ability. Furthermore, it may predispose you to secondary post-operative infections which can cause serious complications to the eyeball and vision. In cases of uncontrolled diabetes, the healing ability of the body is reduced and there are pathological changes that may occur in the eye, like a glaucoma, that may be complicate the LASIK procedure.

Breastfeeding and Pregnant Women

You should not be nursing or pregnant.

Undergoing any procedure, even a fairly safe surgery like LASIK, should never be considered during pregnancy. The possible side effects from antibiotics, pain killers or even anesthetic eye drops (rare) can be dangerous in pregnancy and even harm the fetus. Nursing mothers should be made aware that that these drugs can also impact on a newborn baby through the breast milk. Since LASIK eye surgery is a non-essential procedure, it may be preferable to wait till after delivery or once you stop breastfeeding to consider the procedure.

Vision Stability

Your vision has been stable for more than a year.

In most eyesight disorders, there are constant changes in visual acuity and you may find that on consecutive visits to your opthamologist, your prescription may be changing. This is often seen in childhood or teenage years but usually stabilizes as you get older. Attempting the LASIK procedure when your vision has not stabilized can reduce the effectiveness of the procedure in the long run. It could also lead to complications as the development of the eye structures may be hampered by the procedure.

Motivation for LASIK

Your reasons for wanting to undergo LASIK.

LASIK should be considered if the wearing of eye glasses is restricting your life, either leisure or work, and there are no other risk factors. Often LASIK is chosen for the cosmetic benefit but this has to be carefully assessed in young persons who may be wishing to undergo procedure due to insecurities about their appearance. In these cases, LASIK is not the solution and psychotherapy should be considered to address the emotional issues at hand. You should always be aware of the pros and cons of LASIK before undergoing the procedure.

Always be cautious about LASIK clinics that are prepared to ignore the LASIK restrictions as you may risk your long term vision and undergo a bad LASIK treatment that cannot be reversed.