Are you a Candidate?

At Precision Laser Eye Center, our first responsibility is to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the LASIK procedure. Dr. Keenan makes it his personal responsibility to examine each patient for eligibility. Because the potential for sight-threatening complications is great for people who are not candidates, we make it our highest aim to make sure you are well informed of the risks, as well as the benefits, of the LASIK procedure.

Your eligibility can be determined during your free consultation. During the consultation, make sure you disclose ALL medications you are taking, any injuries that ever occurred to your eye and to provide a detailed medical history. Only then can Dr. Keenan make a safe decision about your ability to have LASIK.

In general, a good LASIK candidate is at least 21 years old, has healthy corneas, and has maintained a stable eye prescription for the last 12 months. Because hormonal levels can affect the shape of the eye, women who are pregnant or nursing should not undergo LASIK treatment. In general, you will not be eligible for LASIK if one or more of the following conditions apply to you:

  • Your age is under 21. In this case your growth phase has not been fully completed. This means that your eyes can still change. In that case LASIK is not a good option.
  • You are pregnant or nursing. Pregnancy causes changes to your hormone system. This can also cause your vision to change. It is therefore better to wait until your child is born and you have finished nursing.
  • Glaucoma or high blood pressure
  • Keratoconus, a corneal irregularity
  • Inflammation of the eye (uveitis, blepharitis or iritis)
  • Herpes simplex that has infected your eye
  • Previous severe injuries on the eye
  • Corneal scars or infections
  • Certain medications
  • Unstable refraction
  • Other diseases of the eye such as AMD, diabetic retinopathy, cataract or others
  • You take medications with ocular side effects (such as Accutane® or Cordarone®).

LASIK is also not recommended for patients with:

  • Very large pupils
  • Thin corneas
  • Dry eye
  • Unstable refractive errors

If any of these apply, the right technology or surgery technique may be able to still provide you with a satisfying treatment, but make sure you discuss the risks in detail with your doctor.