Am I Suitable for Laser Eye Surgery?
Before you go ahead and look into the costs associated with laser eye surgery, it’s important to consider other questions that might come up – you need to be completely certain that this is the right choice for you!
At Ultralase, our screening process is incredibly thorough. We like to take the time to make sure you've been given a detailed explanation of every option available to you.
Try our suitability calculator to see if you are in range for treatment here:
What happens in a consultation?
From the moment you enter one of our clinics, you are given a range of questions to answer so that we can determine your options for treatment.
PENTACAM
- Pupillometry (measurement of your pupil and risk of glare), Pachymetry (Analysis of the dimensions of the cornea and the distance between the cornea and your eye lens) and Tonometry (measurement of the internal pressure of the eye).
OPD
- Autorefraction (measurement of prescription), Wavefront diagnostic (Analysis of the terrain of your cornea, later programmed into the laser).
WITH THE OPTOMETRIST
- Refraction (re-checking of your prescription), Retinal exam (Dilation of the pupil to assess health of retinas), Visual acuity (vision checked near and far, with and without glasses), Slit lamp exam (Detection of eye disease with a microscope and narrow light).
We work with an incredible group of optometrists in our clinics, who are dedicated to ensuring a fully accurate screening.
You will more than likely be suitable if you are healthy, have relatively healthy eyes and you can see with your prescription glasses/contact lenses. However with that being said, there are a couple of parameters if you’re considering laser eye surgery, concerning your prescription.
Can I have laser eye surgery if I have a medical condition?
The following medical conditions may mean that you are unsuitable for treatment, however we can only confirm this at your consultation:
- Blepharitis (eye infections) − your eyes need to be clear of infection
- Increased internal eye pressure − eye pressure needs to be under control
- Dry eyes, epilepsy, MS − depending on the status of the condition
- Diabetes − OK if well-controlled with healthy retinas
- Very large pupils with high correction
- Your prescription is low (under 0.75) and you do not have astigmatism
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding please wait three months after weaning before coming in for a consultation.
You are probably not suitable if you suffer from:
- Rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, lupus
- Keratoconus
- Macular degeneration
- Crohn's or collagen disease
- Blindness in one eye or partial sightedness
- Glaucoma
- Herpes of the eye
- Iritis
- Corneal dystrophy
- A squint or prism which is not corrected by contact lenses