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Lasik Surgery: 4 Pre-Surgery Tests To Determine Your Suitability

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Lasik surgery is a wonderful thing but not everyone is necessarily a good candidate. Anyone who is considering this option will find there are some pretests for determining eligibility. There will be questions concerning their lifestyle and complete medical history. Naturally, they will undergo a thorough and extensive eye examination.

Doctors have a list of tests they perform before allowing Lasik surgery to go forth. A discussion of 4 of these ‘Pre-Tests’ follows. They are:

• Comprehensive Eye Examination
• Tear Film Tests
• Cornea Thickness Analysis
• Pupil Size Analysis

You may hear of other tests such as wavefront analysis, corneal topography, and a few others, depending on what is found during the initial assessments.

(1). Comprehensive Eye Examination

This assessment will let the doctor know more about what else your eyes need to be checked for. There will be a lot revealed about your eyes and your current vision in this preliminary examination.

The doctor will dilate the eyes using ‘cycloplegic’ eye drops. This will enable the doctor to make an accurate assessment of the patient’s exact true vision.

(2). Tear Film Tests

The doctor will test the patient’s tears. They are tested for both quality and quantity and play a role in the decision of whether or not the patient is a good candidate for the surgery. Should a patient fall short in the quantity or quality category for tears the doctor might opt for delaying the surgery until corrections can be made.

(3). Cornea Thickness Analysis

Measuring the thickness of the cornea is known as ‘Pachymetery’. It is a crucial element for determining Lasik surgery eligibility. The reason is that when a patient undergoes Lasik surgery, their eye power is changed by the ‘reshaping of’ and the ‘removal of’ corneal tissue.

It a patient has corneas that are extremely thin it could cause them to be unfit to receive the surgery. Pachymetry is a crucial component for the success of any type of refractive procedure.

(4). Pupil Size Analysis

Pupil size is a huge factor in determining the quality of vision following Lasik surgery. The devices used for measuring pupil size are ‘infrared pupillometer’. They help the surgeon determine the best plan of action in performing the surgery.

There are specific considerations in regard to pupil size like how they will react and dilate when under dim light. Things like ‘glare’ and ‘contrast’ have to be dealt with. The eyes are a delicate and complicated body part to deal with in surgical matters. Yet the success rate of Lasik surgery is phenomenal and considered a minor undertaking.

There are some rules and suggestions for people who believe they want to try Lasik surgery to fix their eye problems. These problems can keep a potential patient from being labeled as ‘fit’ for the surgery –

(a) Under age 18

The eyes are changing all throughout life and understanding all the changes that take place within the eyes of a child is something doctors know very little about. That is why it is recommended that the age line be drawn for 18 and above only.

(b). Pregnant or Nursing

The reason for this caution is the hormonal changes taking place during these times. Fluid retention and every changing hormone can affect a woman’s sight.

(c). Taking Prescription Drugs

There are some prescription drugs that can interfere with the Lasik surgery results. Steroids are a good example. Even acne medications can cause problems for a Lasik patient. Having dry eyes can scar the cornea once the surgery is finished.

This may sound a bit negative but these are all simple precautions. When you are assessed as being a good candidate for Lasik surgery it is a relatively easy and simple procedure. It can work wonders.