By Joel Paige
LASIK surgery is an outpatient surgical procedure to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This is achieved by applying a laser to modify the corneal curvature (the transparent covering of the eye) and improve how the eye focuses light rays on the retina.
The main attraction of LASIK surgery is that it reduces dependence on glasses or contact lenses in patients, achieving that 7 out of 10 people who undergo the intervention achieve 20/20 even with Lasik pricing.
However, the short duration of the surgery, its rapid recovery, and the low percentage of associated complications have been the subject of debate in recent times, mainly due to complaints about the risks associated with this intervention.
One of the first things that we must bear in mind is that Lasik surgery is not a mandatory indication. Still, one more option was added a few years ago for patients with myopia, astigmatism, or hyperopia. These, until before Lasik had two options, or they wore glasses or contact lenses, and with the arrival of Lasik, a third option was added. Emphasizing an option is that someone can have myopia or astigmatism and opt for an eyeglass or contact lens, which may be their best option. If you don’t like any of the above, you can opt for laser surgery.
Understood in this way, when the patient expresses his desire to have an operation, the doctor comes here and sees if he meets some minimum requirements. The first requirement is age; you cannot operate on patients under 20 years of age. This is because, up to the age of 20, especially in myopia, the refractive error can continue to progress.
A second requirement is a stability over time. In other words, it must be verified that this patient has not had any changes in his refractive alteration in the last year. This is verified by conducting at least two ophthalmological controls separated by one year before the surgical intervention.
As a third requirement, it is established that the refractive defect of the patient is within what is called a “surgical range.” Myopia, astigmatism, or hyperopia, very low or very high, are not acceptable. A fourth requirement is that the patient does not have an added pathology that contraindicates surgery.
In the initial interview during the first ophthalmological consultation, without requiring significant examinations and only talking with the patient, one can realize whether or not he is a good candidate. If the patient meets all the requirements mentioned above, he is a candidate for examinations, which does not mean that he is already authorized for the operation. During the exams, the cornea is observed and if it meets the requirements to be operated on.
