Am I a Good Candidate for Eye Surgery LASIK in Melbourne?

When it comes to corrective eye surgery LASIK is one of the best treatment options available. LASIK surgery can address a variety of refractive eye conditions, including myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), and astigmatism.

The NewVision Clinics team has successfully completed more than 36,000 LASIK surgeries in Melbourne. This has given us a strong understanding of which patients are good candidates for the treatment and we explore this in more detail below.

Over 18 Years Old

In your younger years, the refraction of your cornea can shift and continue changing and the natural lens in our eyes is more flexible earlier in life. As a result, you must be at least 18 years old to be a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery. Those under 18 who have myopia or hyperopia will often find their degree of short or long-sightedness shifts over time, eventually stabilising with age. There is no maximum age limit, as long as your eyes are relatively healthy.

Stable Refraction

Patients should also have stable vision (consistent refraction) for a year. This is somewhat related to the previous point as refractions often change throughout childhood, throughout the teenage years and often into the early twenties. If your refraction is significantly changing, that is, you need a new prescription in less than 12 months, it’s best to wait until your vision stabilises before considering laser eye surgery.

Healthy Eyes

Your eyes also need to be healthy, with adequately thick and well-shaped corneas. LASIK surgery involves removing corneal tissue in order to address refractive errors, so you need enough tissue there to be safely removed. You will typically be eligible if your prescription is in the range of -10.0 to + 5.0 dioptres if corneal thickness is sufficient.

Not Pregnant or Nursing

Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy can cause temporary changes in refraction errors, making it difficult to accurately assess your vision. Therefore, LASIK surgery is not recommended if you’re pregnant or nursing.

Book a Consultation to Discuss LASIK in Melbourne

With extensive experience and state-of-the-art technology, NewVision Clinics is the specialist clinic you can rely on for eye surgery LASIK to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism in Melbourne. Contact us today to book an obligation-free consultation and find out whether or not you’re a good candidate for LASIK in Melbourne.