Refractive surgery, the name replete with such common procedures as LASIK, PRK, and SMILE, has emerged as a synonym for revolutionary treatment among those with a desire to decrease their reliance on glasses or contact lenses. It can be due to nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, but refractive surgery holds the potential of correcting all of these visual impairments by re-modeling the cornea so light can pass through with deeper focus onto the retina.

But not everyone is a good candidate. We practice individualized, evidence-based practice at Mumbai Eye Care. It is important to know who is a good candidate to enjoy long-term clear vision and patient satisfaction.

Let us talk about the most important factors that decide if you can be a good candidate for refractive surgery.

Stable Vision Prescription

Prior to refractive surgery, your prescription must be stable for a minimum of 12 months—preferably longer. Drastic changes in your prescription can be an indicator of some underlying problem or the fact that eyes are not stabilized yet. Surgery in unstable eyes will have unpredictable outcomes or the necessity of enhancement surgery in the future.

Ideal Candidate:-

• No appreciable change in vision for 12 months or more.
• Achieved stability by history of past eye check-up.

Age Counts

Refractive surgery is usually recommended for patients aged 18 and above, with most surgeons preferring patients aged 21 and above. The reason is that the eyes are likely to continue changing until one is in their early 20s. In addition, older patients (40 years and above) may start developing presbyopia or age-related loss of near vision, which could impact candidacy or require other treatment alternatives.

Age Factors to Consider

• 18–40 years: Most common cases.
• 40–60 years: Can be a candidate for laser or lens-based surgery alone based on presbyopia.
• 60+ years: Cataract assessment would generally be more suitable.

Corneal Thickness and Shape

Refractive surgeries obtain its effect by recontouring the cornea. Normal thickness of the cornea is needed to give safe outcomes. When the cornea is too thick or of abnormal shape (in keratoconus), the risk of complications is significantly enhanced.

Evaluation Devices:

• Topography for evaluation of shape.
• Pachymetry for evaluation of thickness.

We use high-technology diagnostic instruments to perform a full corneal examination at Mumbai Eye Care to provide safety and accuracy.

Good General Eye Health

Even with your prescription eyes and cornea in their best shape, you need to be free from some eye disease that will make healing difficult or surgery more of a risk.

Conditions That May Impact Candidacy:

• Keratoconus or corneal ectasia.
• Excessive dry eyes.
• Repeated eye infection.
• Uveitis (inflammation of the eye).
• Increasing glaucoma.
• Cataracts (for patients 50 years of age and above, lens surgery may be preferred).

If these are identified during a comprehensive evaluation, your ophthalmologist can suggest alternative options.

General Health and Lifestyle Factors

Some systemic health conditions can affect recovery following surgery or raise the risk of complications.

Health Considerations:

• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can affect healing.
• Uncontrolled diabetes can affect recovery and infection risk.
• Pregnancy and lactation can cause temporary vision change and postpone candidacy for surgery.
• Drugs such as steroids or immunosuppressants might cause interference.

Your occupation—such as contact sports, the armed forces, or professions that require good nighttime vision—has to be indicated. Some applicants will do better with surface ablation procedures (PRK) compared to LASIK.

Realistic Expectations

Though refractive surgery greatly enhances vision, honest expectations are imperative. Nobody can promise 20/20 eyesight, however, most realize that or even better. Several patients will retain glasses for one or two uses, such as reading or driving at night. 

Important Factors to Consider:-

• Visual results vary by anatomy and healing from patient to patient.
• Night vision distortions (halos, glare) will temporarily be present to begin with.
• Secondary operations or augmentations may be necessary in unusual instances.

At Mumbai Eye Care, we make sure that patients are properly counseled about what to expect so that they can make a well-informed decision.

Types of Refractive Errors That Are Appropriate for Surgery

Refractive surgery can be used to fix a wide range of visual imperfections:-

• Myopia (Nearsightedness): Possibly the most frequent indication for LASIK.
• Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Resolved with laser shaping or lens surgery.
• Astigmatism: Asymmetrical shape of the cornea, and in most cases, this is correctable.
• Presbyopia (Age-related Near Vision Loss): May involve monovision LASIK or treatment with lenses.

Your refractive error also plays a part. Very high prescriptions can be outside the safe levels for reshaping the cornea and require implantable lenses (ICLs) instead.

Psychological Readiness and Commitment

While surgery is short and relatively painless, recovery involves follow-up schedules, eye drops, and activity restrictions. Patients need to be mentally and emotionally ready to follow post-op instructions for an effective healing process.

State-of-the-Art Diagnostics Improve Outcomes

We apply the most modern diagnostic technology at Mumbai Eye Care, which includes:-

• Wavefront analysis
• Pentacam corneal mapping
• Tear film evaluation

These assist us in establishing whether you are a good and secure applicant, and if you are, which personalized surgical method will provide the best result.

Last Words: Is Refractive Surgery Suitable for You?

Refractive surgery can be life-changing, offering freedom from glasses or contact lenses and improving your quality of life. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The best way to know if you’re a good candidate is to undergo a comprehensive eye evaluation by a qualified ophthalmologist.

Patient safety, satisfaction, and surgical outcome are very valuable to us at Mumbai Eye Care. We thoroughly check each candidate and provide a custom treatment plan based on your special visual needs and medical status.