Fouad Melamed, OD Los Angeles Eye Doctor

Lasik surgery is not for everyone. Once the patient has decided to have Lasik surgery, an exam needs to be done to see if they are indeed a good candidate for the procedure. There are certain criteria that must be met before Lasik can be preformed. In my home area of Los Angeles, California, you can even get a free Lasik Consultation evaluation.

First is patient age, most physicians will not perform surgery on patients that are under 21 years of age. This is to allow for growth to be completed. Patients will also need to have stable corrective prescription for about two years.

Your corneas will be examined to make sure they are thick enough for surgery to proceed safely. Corneal thickness is crucial to the making of the flap necessary for the surgery and subsequent recovery.

Your eyes will also be examined for their general health. This is so important for many reasons. While Lasik is minor surgery, it is still surgery. You will have wounds that will need to heal. Your eyes will need to be in peak health to heal rapidly. Healthy eyes also help prevent surgical site infections.

Your eye care professional will also discuss past and current medical history. If you are pregnant or nursing, your Lasik procedure will need to be delayed. You will also need to discuss any past history of ocular herpes. Lasik surgery will need to be postponed for a year after treatment of ocular herpes.

Occasionally the corrections needed are just too great for current Lasik technology. The technology surrounding Lasik is constantly improving. So if you are one of the few that can’t be helped by Lasik, don’t give up hope. As you have your regular eye exams, check with your eye care professional to see what changes have occurred in the technology. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Some conditions will need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Those include previous corneal scars, dry eyes, and any issues that might slow healing. Those include immunosuppressant medications and steroids. Patients that have autoimmune disorders may also be at risk for healing issues.

Some patients will not be candidates for Lasik procedure. Cataract patients, those with corneal diseases, and those with corneal thinning will probably be excluded from having the procedure. Those patients that have a history of wound healing issues may also be excluded, as well as those patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Your Los Angeles eye doctor will also discuss realistic expectation for surgery results. In fact, you can take advantage of a free Lasik Consultation Evaluation While 20/20 vision is the goal, not everyone will achieve this result. Also as you age you may well need to wear reading glasses even though your Lasik procedure was successful.

You have heard all the hype … LASIK Eye Surgery is THE way to go to not only see well but also get rid of your glasses and contact lenses forever.

But is LASIK safe? As with any medical procedure, you’ll want to be sure you have the most up to date information before investing in a new way of looking at the world at large.

As with any form of surgery, LASIK does carry with it some risks. It is important you seek the guidance of an experienced eye doctor to see if you are a good candidate and exactly what the procedure consists of. When it comes to your eye health, less expensive may not always be best. You want to be certain you select a LASIK surgeon with the appropriate credentials and experience performing LASIK procedures.

This will help reduce your risk of side effects and complications. Recent studies suggest that up to 5% of patients undergoing LASIK procedures will experience some mild side effects. Most of these side effects are usually gone within the first couple of months. Generally complication risks are minimized when patients for the procedure are carefully screened and selected. In fact, often the best doctors reject many patients, because they are not good candidates for the procedure.

Most of the side effects associated with LASIK treatments are relatively minor, and most not permanent. The most common LASIK side effects are glare and dry eye symptoms. These side effects have really gone down with the use IntraLase. And even now, these symptoms are temporary.

Other more common side effects include infection, irritation, some swelling or inflammation and temporary redness. These often resolve after a short time.

LASIK complications have dramatically been reduced with the lasers and technology. Most complications such as flap slips are dealt with in the first week, and the prognosis is generally excellent. At times the flap may be incorrectly cut or injured. Fortunately there is a new procedure that minimizes this risk known as IntraLase.

Fortunately in many cases the results of LASIK surgery are unquestionably positive. It is important your eye doctor screen you carefully to determine your eligibility for the procedure.

Patients over the age of 40 often feel they are not a candidate for LASIK. That is not the case. These patients can be a candidate for an altered form of LASIK. Patients should talk to their doctor about all their options.

Remember the most important determinant of your response is selection of an experienced surgeon. Hand technique and experience are important characteristics when choosing a surgeon. As an optometrist in West Hollywood, I am proud to work with the city’s finest surgeons. Our Free LASIK consultations give you a complete evaluation to see if you are a good candidate. You get one-on-one time with Dr. Melamed, who had the procedure done on him, 8 years ago. He will let you know himself, he doesn’t miss his glasses or contacts one bit!