Do you have the goal to improve your vision in the New Year? January is a time when many people are setting personal resolutions, with a commitment to improve specific areas of their lives. If you are tired of wearing glasses and contacts each day, then you might set a goal to invest in LASIK this year.
The best way to get started is to schedule a consultation with an experienced eye doctor. Your eye exam is a time to evaluate your current vision health, talk about your prescription, and determine any other things that can be done to improve your eyesight. You can start the conversation about LASIK to see if you are a good candidate for this vision correction surgery.
Things to Consider Before LASIK
Before you decide whether LASIK is right for you, it is important to consider a few things:
- Alternatives: Sometimes, it makes sense to try non-surgical alternatives before opting for a surgical treatment. For example, you might try using contact lenses as an alternative to glasses if you don’t like the discomfort of wearing frames on your face.
- Cost: Most vision insurance providers view LASIK as an optional treatment, which means that insurance coverage isn’t available for the surgery. Talk to your optometrist about out-of-pocket costs so you can evaluate your budget.
- Age: Patients need to be at least 18 years old to have LASIK. But age isn’t the most important factor. Instead, it is essential to evaluate prescription changes from one year to the next. If your prescription isn’t stable, then you might need to wait for a year or two before having the surgery.
- Candidacy: Certain medical factors need to be evaluated to determine if LASIK is a good fit for you. Schedule a consultation and exam so we can evaluate your prescription type, overall eye health, other medical concerns, and the shape of the eyes.
- Scheduling: A few scheduling considerations need to be addressed before and after the surgery. For example, if you are wearing contact lenses, then you will need to switch to glasses to get your eyes ready for LASIK. A short recovery time is necessary after the surgery, with most people returning to normal activities within a day or so.
Schedule an Exam
If you are considering LASIK, then our team is here to answer your questions. Contact us at our Murrieta office: (951) 600-9226, or our Temecula office: (951) 302-1331.