Quick Answer
You are eligible for LASIK if you are 18+, your prescription has been stable for 1 year, corneal thickness is above 480 microns, and you have no keratoconus or severe dry eyes. 85-90% of people who want LASIK are eligible. A pre-LASIK evaluation confirms eligibility.
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LASIK Eligibility Criteria — Am I a Good Candidate?
One of the most common concerns is whether you qualify for LASIK. Here is a complete eligibility guide for Indian patients.
Basic Eligibility Criteria for LASIK
Age: Minimum 18 years. Most surgeons prefer 20 to 21 years when the prescription is more stable. No upper age limit if eyes are healthy.
Stable prescription: Your spectacle or contact lens power should not have changed by more than 0.50 diopters in the past 12 months. Unstable prescription increases the risk of regression after LASIK.
Adequate corneal thickness: Your cornea must be thick enough after the flap is created and tissue is removed. Generally above 480 to 500 microns. Pachymetry (corneal thickness test) during pre-evaluation measures this precisely.
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Healthy eyes: No active infections, no uncontrolled glaucoma, no corneal diseases.
No keratoconus: Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea is cone-shaped and progressive. LASIK is contraindicated as it can worsen the condition.
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Power (Prescription) Limits for LASIK
Myopia (short-sightedness): Up to -12.00 diopters. Most cases up to -8.00 are straightforwardly correctable.
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Hyperopia (long-sightedness): Up to +6.00 diopters. Results are good up to +4.00; higher powers have slightly lower predictability.
Astigmatism: Up to 6.00 diopters. Contoura Vision gives excellent results for higher astigmatism.
Note: Power limits depend on your corneal thickness — someone with a thick cornea at -10.00 may be eligible while someone with a thin cornea at -7.00 may not. The pre-evaluation determines this precisely.
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Who Is NOT Eligible for LASIK?
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Keratoconus: A progressive corneal disease. LASIK is absolutely contraindicated. Cross-linking may stabilise keratoconus and ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is an alternative for vision correction.
Very thin corneas: If corneal thickness is insufficient for safe tissue removal, LASIK is not recommended. PRK (surface ablation, no flap) may be an alternative.
Unstable prescription: Wait until prescription has been stable for 12 months.
Severe dry eyes: May worsen significantly after LASIK. SMILE causes less dry eyes and may be an alternative. Severe cases may need treatment before any refractive surgery.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Hormonal changes affect corneal shape and prescription stability. Wait 3 months after breastfeeding ends.
Uncontrolled diabetes: Affects wound healing. Well-controlled diabetes with stable prescription is generally acceptable.
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Certain autoimmune conditions: Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome may affect healing.
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Alternatives If You Are Not Eligible for LASIK
ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens): A lens implanted inside the eye without removing any corneal tissue. Suitable for high powers and thin corneas. Reversible. Cost Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,50,000 per eye in India.
PRK / LASEK: Surface laser ablation without creating a flap. Suitable for thin corneas. Slower recovery (1 to 2 weeks) but excellent long-term results.
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SMILE: Flapless procedure. Suitable for thin-ish corneas as it removes less corneal tissue than LASIK.
The Pre-LASIK Evaluation — What to Expect
The pre-LASIK evaluation takes 30 to 45 minutes and includes: corneal topography (detailed corneal map), corneal thickness (pachymetry), pupil size measurement under different light conditions, dry eye assessment (Schirmer test), wavefront analysis (for advanced procedures), refraction and best corrected vision, slit lamp examination of cornea and lens.
Based on these results your surgeon will confirm eligibility and recommend the most appropriate technology.
Call MySurgery at 8588967050 to book a free pre-LASIK evaluation consultation at our partner eye centre in your city.
Call MySurgery at 8588967050 or WhatsApp us for a free consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist in your city. Callback within 30 minutes.
Book Free Consultation: mysurgery.in/contact | WhatsApp: wa.me/918588967050
Dr. Kavita Rao
MS Ophthalmology, Fellowship Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 14 years experience, Medanta Gurugram Gurugram
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