LASIK laser eye surgery can be performed on most of the eye patients suffering from refractive error, however, there are certain specific criteria, which need to be fulfilled to undergo. This will be determined by your eye doctor, during a comprehensive eye exam. Your eligibility for LASIK eye surgery is determined according to various factors and the maximum eye power for LASIK is one of the important and deciding factors.
Comprehensive Eye Exam
The eye doctor determines the refractive error of your eyes, by examining your astigmatism, nearsightedness or farsightedness, with which you have been suffering from. The eye glass prescription is noted down during this exam. The maximum power required for each of these refractive error problems is varied to undergo the LASIK surgery.
Refractive Error
Refractive errors are caused from the cornea or lenses misshape. The result is the problems of vision and the severity of the problem is measured in dioptres (D). Positive number, here indicates hyperopia or farsightedness and negative number indicates myopia or nearsightedness. When the objects at both near and farer are seen blurred, the condition is considered as astigmatism.
Refractive Error Limits for LASIK Surgery
- Nearsightedness refractive error prescription should not be more than -11.00 D
- Farsightedness prescription should not cross +5.00 D
- Astigmatism should not cross 5.00
The above technical specifications are specific to the LASIK surgery, when performed by using excimer lasers. When astigmatism problem is combined with myopia or hyperopia problems, the range of power is varied. In the same way, when astigmatism is occurred with mixed conditions then also it is considered as a special condition by the eye surgeons. These limits are maximum limits. The more the refractive error, the more there will be the risk after the surgery. Additional care is required by both the surgeon during the surgery and by the patient after the surgery, if the prescription falls in last 20% of the upper limits. This maximum power limit for the refractive error should not be crossed to undergo the LASIK eye surgery. In case the surgery is performed for the ineligible patients, the results and outcomes can be risky with the symptoms of halos and glare, more intense during night.