Over 3 million Americans have undergone laser eye surgery since 1995. According to the results of a survey released by The Eye Surgery Education Council (ESEC), the public education arm of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), more than 85 percent or survey respondents said the surgery improved their overall quality of life and 93 percent of patients said they were satisfied with the results.

Could you be a candidate for LASIK surgery?

Who Qualifies?

The ideal candidate:

• Is over 18 years of age and has had a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for at least two years.
  
  
• Has sufficient corneal thickness (the transparent covering of the eye) to allow the surgeon to safely create a clean corneal flap of appropriate depth.
  
  
• Has one or a combination of the most common types of vision problems:
  • Myopia (nearsightedness)
  • Hyperopia (farsightedness)
  • Astigmatism (blurred vision caused by an irregular shaped cornea)
    
    
• Does not suffer from any disease or condition that may reduce the effectiveness of the surgery or prevent the patient from healing properly and quickly.
  
  
• Understands both the benefits and risks of the procedure. Candidates should thoroughly discuss the procedure with their eye care professional. For most people, the goal of refractive surgery should be the reduction of dependency on glasses and contact lenses, not their complete elimination.