Am I a Candidate for LASIK?

Tired of fumbling for your glasses first thing every morning? Not happy with your transition lenses? Laser eye surgery, called LASIK, has helped millions of people ditch their glasses and contacts for good, but it's not the right fit for everyone.

The only way to know for sure is to schedule an evaluation. Donna Cooper, OD, and Sarah Chung, OD, offer LASIK consultations at Cooper Optometry in Santa Monica, California. 

They assess your eyes, prescription, and lifestyle to determine whether laser vision correction makes sense for you.

Here's what goes into that decision: 

Your prescription should be stable

Before anything else, Dr. Cooper or Dr. Chung reviews how your vision has changed over time. LASIK tends to work best when your prescription has held steady for at least a year. If things are still shifting, it may be harder to determine.

LASIK can correct astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. You may qualify even if you’ve worn glasses or contacts for many years. A consultation helps us confirm whether your prescription falls within the treatable range. 

The health of your eyes matters

Blurry vision alone doesn't make you a LASIK candidate. The health of your eyes is just as important as your prescription.

During your evaluation, our team checks for anything that could affect how well you heal or the success of the outcome. That includes factors such as:

• Dry eye disease
• Glaucoma
• Corneal irregularities
• Certain retinal conditions

Comprehensive exams, dry eye treatment, and glaucoma evaluations can catch issues early; treating an underlying problem first may improve your chances of qualifying for LASIK.

Think about how you use your eyes

LASIK is as much a practical decision as a medical one. We won’t recommend it if you're under 18, pregnant or nursing, or on certain medications.

Many active people pursue it because glasses and contacts get in the way during sports, travel, or jobs where frames aren't convenient. Others are simply over the daily routine of lens care.

But the procedure isn't for everyone. If you're genuinely happy with your glasses, that's great. Our goal during the consultation isn't to push you toward LASIK; it's to help you figure out what makes the most sense for your life.

There are other options

If LASIK turns out not to be the right fit, you’re not out of options. Your optometrist looks at your corneal thickness, prescriptions, and overall eye health to map out what’s available, whether that’s a different procedure or even an updated contact lens prescription.

Schedule a consultation

There are plenty of online quizzes that can give you an idea if you could benefit from LASIK, but the only way to really know is to schedule a thorough evaluation at our Santa Monica office.

Call 310-879-1423 or request an appointment online today.