Is Laser Eye Surgery Right For Me?

The American Eye Surgery Education Council, a professional society of ophthalmologists, has developed a list of medically accepted criteria to determine the ideal, less-than-ideal and unsuitable candidates for laser eye surgery.

Here is a chart to help you understand if laser eye surgery is right for you:

Profile	Characteristics
Ideal candidate	Is at least 18 years old Is afflicted by one of the refractive errors (myopia, hyperobia, astigmatism or a combination). The ideal candidate has myopia up to -12 D, astigmatism up to 6 D and hyperopia up to +6 D Has worn glasses or contacts for at least two years In the case of Lasik, has a sufficiently thick cornea for the surgeon to cut a flap Does not suffer from any disease or health condition which would prevent or significantly slow the healing process or complicate surgery Is adequately informed about the risks of laser eye surgery.
Less-than-ideal candidate	Has dry eyes (a condition which can  worsen after surgery) Has a suppressed immune system, which can affect healing Is under the age of 18 Is pregnant or nursing Has recently had a change in vision, ie a change in your contact/glasses prescription Have refractive errors that are too severe to be entirely treated with current technology
Unsuitable candidate	Has cataracts, advanced glaucoma or other corneal diseases which preclude laser eye surgery Does not give informed consent Has unrealistic expectations

Something else to consider: Would your career be jeopardized if your surgery weren't to result as expected? Certain careers, such as some of those in the military, prohibit or restrict refractive eye surgery. Check with your employer to make sure.