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LASIK Eligibility
   Good candidates are at least 18 years of age, in good general health, and with no eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma. A screening with Dr. Arffa is the best way to determine if you are a candidate and what your probable outcome may be.
  Good candidates should be free of eye diseases including keratoconus, glaucoma, cataracts and certain retinal and optic nerve diseases. Candidates should be free of certain eye viruses including herpes simplex and herpes zoster. Good candidates should also be free of certain health problems including uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune or collagen vascular disease, and any medication or condition which renders the patient immunocompromised.
   Patients should make their doctor aware of certain eye problems including amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (muscle imbalance), severe dry eyes, previous eye surgery or injury, or any recurrent, residual or active eye conditions which may affect healing. Other conditions that should be related to the doctor include keloid scarring with previous surgical healing, back problems, claustrophobia or other psychological problems, which may affect the surgery or recovery.
   It is critical that a potential laser vision correction candidate has obtained a stable prescription for at least one year. Since hormones may affect the stability of your prescription, pregnant or nursing women are not eligible to pursue laser vision correction until two menstrual cycles after nursing has been discontinued. This is to make sure that the best results are achieved with the surgery, and to try to limit fluctuations in prescription that can occur with hormonal shifts.
   If you'd like to talk with someone who has had laser vision correction with Dr. Arffa, we'd be happy to put you in touch with patients who can describe their experience to you firsthand.

What are the Risks?
   
There are risks with the laser vision correction procedure. However, the chance of having a vision reducing complication has been documented in a number of clinical studies to be minimal. Remember, millions of people have had excellent results from laser vision correction.
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  Some potential complications include conditions such as dryness, complications in making the surgical flap, night glare, under or over-correction, and loss of best-corrected vision. With Dr. Arffa, these and other risks of the surgery are discussed fully with the patient prior to the procedure. Proper preoperative screening ensures that we proceed with the procedure only when it is medically advisable. As well, diligent post-operative care helps to identify and address any potential healing complications. Perhaps the best way to help prevent LASIK complications is to choose a surgeon who is experienced and respected in the community, and values patient care above all things. This is one of the advantages of choosing Dr. Arffa.
  
 
 

Preoperative Education

In general, to be a candidate for laser vision correction you should:

• 18 years of age or older
• Have stable vision for a year prior to the   procedure
• Free of certain diseases of the cornea and   retina
• Be in good general health

Aside from these general requirements, we recommend that before you proceed with laser vision correction, you schedule a pre-procedure consultation with Dr. Arffa. This consultation is mandatory prior to having your procedure. This is because we feel it is critical that you have both the correct testing and education prior to proceeding with having laser vision correction.

The primary objective of the consultation is to determine whether you are a candidate for laser vision correction, and if so, which procedure is most appropriate for you. Equally as important, we educate you about whether or not laser vision correction is right for you, and the benefits and risks associated with this type of surgery.

Learning everything you can about your options is the key to making an informed decision. We will help you understand what results you can reasonably expect after the procedure given your particular prescription and circumstances. If you schedule a consultation, there is no obligation to move forward with the procedure.

It is important for you to realize that even if it is determined that you are not a candidate today, it does not mean that you will not be a candidate in the future. The technology for vision correction is constantly being enhanced, enabling higher and more difficult prescriptions to be qualified. However, laser vision correction is not for everyone, and some patients (such as those with certain diseases of the eye involving the cornea) will never be candidates. The best way for you to find out is by having a thorough examination with Dr. Arffa.

  
 
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Copyright © 2009 Robert C. Arffa, M.D., 1370 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017