Health and Personality Factors

Many people believe that the main factor of whether or not they can have IntraLASIK is if the laser is capable of treating the degree or type of their prescription.  While this is one factor, there are many other factors we measure and evaluate at your pre-surgical full exam that can just as easily affect your candidacy.  Variables such as personality and expectations can also influence whether a person is suited for IntraLASIK as much as any physiological and anatomical factors can.  
 


 
Good Candidate
Poor Candidate
NOT a Candidate
Over 18 Distance vision changing Have keratoconus or thin corneas
Stable distance vision Poor overall health Have history of ocular herpes
Good general health Perfectionist/not adaptable Have active iritis/uveitis
Good corneal thickness Likes wearing glasses/contacts Active collagen vascular disease
Easygoing/adaptable Intolerant of vision fluctuation Active autoimmune disorder
Tolerant of vision fluctuation Disappointed if enhancement needed Using long term steroids or chemo
  Have moderate cataracts Have advanced cataracts
    Have uncontrolled diabetes
    Have uncontrolled hypertension
    Have uncontrolled thyroid
     

While there are no recent studies addressing this, we have found that smoking, as it affects overall healing, can introduce a greater degree of variation in the healing pattern of the corneas after IntraLASIK.  This variability seems to increase the odds a person will need an enhancement and may affect the overall final clarity of vision.