LASIK is intended for people who want to minimize their reliance on glasses or contact lenses.  People looking for perfect vision without glasses or contacts run the risk of being disappointed with LASIK.

If your refractive error falls outside acceptable guidelines, it may not be possible for you to have LASIK.  However, other types of refractive surgery (including some techniques that are still being developed) may benefit you in the future. Dr. Mark Hornfeld can discuss this with you further.

A good candidate for LASIK must be free of eye disease and have a prescription for glasses or contact lenses that has been relatively stable for at least one year.  Although there is no upper age limit for having LASIK, people under 18 are not good candidates because their vision is still changing.

Pregnant women, people with diabetes, people using oral prednisone, Accutane, or those who have a poorly controlled autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, or a history of ocular herpes, should not have LASIK.

If you have specific occupational goals, you should ask prospective employers about refractive surgery regulations before making your decision.