Testing for LASIK Candidacy

Mar 19, 2015 @ 05:06 PM — by Dr. Steven Chander

LASIK surgery offers the promise of long-term vision correction to those patients suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Following a LASIK procedure, patients are able to greatly reduce or completely eliminate their reliance on corrective lenses, so it is no surprise that this is such a popular treatment option for those who suffer from vision impairment. Dr. Steven Chander has an advanced understanding of the LASIK procedure and what types of patients are ideal candidates for this laser vision correction treatment. He offers his Chicago patients LASIK testing to determine if they can expect safe and effective results from this revolutionary form of vision correction.

LASIK Candidacy

Prior to conducting LASIK testing to determine specific candidacy for LASIK surgery, Dr. Chander will discuss the LASIK procedure with his eye patients and go over the general guidelines that make a patient a good candidate for LASIK surgery. During a LASIK consultation, Dr. Chander will discuss a patient’s eye health, general health, and their medical history. In order to test for LASIK candidacy, Dr. Chander must determine that patients meet the following qualifications:

Patients must be at least 18 years or older
Patients must have a vision prescription that has not worsened in the past 12 months
Patients have not suffered an eye injury, eye infection, or eye disease in the past year
Female patients should not be pregnant or nursing

If these general guidelines are met and if the patient has realistic expectations for the LASIK procedure, Dr. Chander will likely move forward with patients by scheduling them for LASIK testing.

LASIK Testing

LASIK testing involves a series of diagnostic techniques that allow Dr. Chander to thoroughly examine the eye and determine if LASIK is a safe and viable option. When performing LASIK testing, Dr. Chander will be looking at several eye characteristics, including the following:

The size of the patient’s pupil
The thickness of the patient’s cornea
The presence of any corneal scarring
Tear production
Stability of refractive error

The ultimate goal of all of these LASIK tests is to ensure that a patient is likely to benefit from optimal results of LASIK surgery with minimal risk of complication. If LASIK tests determine that a patient is an ideal candidate for this procedure, Dr. Chander will help patients proceed with treatment by recommending them to a skilled LASIK surgeon. While Dr. Chander does not perform the LASIK surgery himself, he continues to work with patients and co-manages the procedure to ensure that his patients receive the high quality care that they deserve.

Contact Us

At Primary Eye Care Associates, Dr. Chander and his team offer patients comprehensive eye care that meets all of their eye health needs. If you are looking for general eye care services or would like to learn more about the LASIK procedure, contact us at your earliest convenience to set up an appointment with Dr. Chander. We look forward to hearing from you!