What Vision is Too High for LASIK?

LASIK is the most popular laser vision correction procedure available today. LASIK helps nearly 800,000 people in the United States every year achieve better vision. To date, nearly 30 million people worldwide have been successfully treated with LASIK surgery. LASIK has a 96% success rate with more than 50% of patients achieving better vision than the standard 20/20 vision. Around 35% of Americans have eye problems that can be fixed by LASIK surgery, but not everyone chooses LASIK. And LASIK is not the right fit for everyone. In fact, it is possible for your vision to be outside the prescription parameters necessary to qualify for LASIK surgery. As LASIK serves to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, what vision is too high for LASIK?

To determine if your prescription falls within a treatable range for LASIK or any other alternative procedures, it is best to consult with Great Plains Eye Specialists. Eligibility for LASIK is determined by many factors including your current vision status. Your prescription, refractive error, is measured in diopters. This unit of measurement represents focal length in meters as well as the strength of your lens. The range of diopters depends on the technology used by your surgeon. LASIK can treat up to +6.00 diopters of hyperopia, up to 6 diopters of astigmatism and up to -12.00 diopters of myopia. The numbers for myopia have increased over the years with advances in technology. Still, surgeons will consider the other factors necessary for determining if a patient is a candidate for LASIK. Among diopters, corneal thickness plays a vital role in LASIK eligibility. Generally, the higher the prescription to correct myopia and astigmatism, the more potential stress is put on the cornea over the course of time. Corneal tissue is removed during laser vision correction and is proportional to the level of correction. This is why some surgeons may consider vision that is too high a reason to preclude a patient from LASIK. 

If you are interested in LASIK for correcting your vision and eliminating the need to wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, let us schedule your appointment for a comprehensive eye exam. Call 605-718-5123 or visit here WEBSITE. Ophthalmologists at Great Plains Eye Specialistswill provide details of the LASIK procedure or necessary alternatives to help you live a life with clear vision.