Every year, millions of Americans experience the life changing benefits of LASIK. The excellent success rate of laser vision correction can partly be attributed to the detailed patient screening conducted prior to a LASIK procedure. Though many interested patients are ideal candidates for refractive surgery, there are a few important factors to consider before seeking approval.
1) Vision should be stable for at least a year
- Stable vision means there has been minimal change in the glasses prescription for at least one year. Ideally, eyes should also be free of injuries and infections, including retinal diseases, eye inflammation and herpes of the eye.
2) Eyes should be fully developed
- Maturation of the eye depends on the individual. LASIK is best performed when young adult eyes are fully developed at approximately age 18.
3) Patients should not be pregnant or nursing
- Pregnant or nursing women may undergo hormonal changes that could affect their vision stability and success of LASIK.
4) Patients should not have an autoimmune disease
- Some autoimmune disorders, including Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Crohn’s Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis, may interfere with a patient’s ability to heal after LASIK. In these cases, other surgical options are best.
5) The cornea is healthy and has sufficient thickness
- Creation of the corneal flap and reshaping of the cornea may be affected if the cornea is abnormal or scarred. A scarred cornea is often the result of Keratoconus, a degenerative disorder that causes the eye’s structure to change and the cornea to thin and become conical shape. There are several alternative vision correction options to accommodate patients with a thin or abnormal cornea. Dr. Kugler and Dr. Schlichtemeier perform a very thorough evaluation and will customize the treatment plan to fit each patient’s unique needs. Discover if you’re a possible LASIK patient by taking a Candidate Self Test online.
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
