To determine if you are a candidate for LASIK, your eye doctor will review your medical history and perform a thorough eye exam. Though most adults with stable vision are good LASIK candidates, certain medical conditions, physical characteristics, and other factors may mean that LASIK is not right for you.
In order to be accurately evaluated, it is important for contact lens wearers to remove their lenses well in advance of the consultation. Women who are pregnant or lactating must wait before scheduling a consultation. At the end of your consultation at our
San Diego LASIK center, you will be able to drive home safely.
Entrance Tests
Entrance tests are basic tests designed to determine the fundamental health and functionality of a patient's eyes. First the doctor will perform an external examination, looking for signs of damage, disease, and other problems on the outside of the eye. Tests for visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color perception, and other basic parameters will also be performed at this point.
Testing for Refractive Errors
Refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are the root causes of vision problems requiring
laser vision correction. Your eye doctor will use keratometry and other refractive tests to identify refractive errors that need to be corrected through surgery.
Testing for Diseases
Individuals suffering from eye diseases are typically not good candidates for
LASIK eye surgery. Your eye doctor will perform slit lamp, dilated fundus, and intraocular pressure testing to determine whether you may be affected by an eye disease that makes laser eye surgery impossible and may require other treatment instead.