How To Know If I Am Eligible For LASIK Or Other Refractive Laser Eye Surgery
Table of Contents
- 1.IS LASIK Surgery Safe?
- 2.What If You Are Not Eligible for LASIK?
- 3. Why Choose Dr. Vikas Veerwal for Best LASIK Surgery Experience in Ghaziabad and Noida?
- 4. LASIK Expert with Advanced Training
- 5.State-of-the-Art Technology
- 6. Personalized Care
- 7. Trusted by Thousands
- 8.Book Your Appointment Now
- 9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
After seeing more than 10000 LASIK surgery patients and operating more than 3000 cases, the biggest surprise I see in LASIK consultations is this: Many people who think they’re eligible… are not. And many who think they’re not… actually are. After operating thousands of refractive surgery patients (LASIK/SMILE/Wavelight plus innoveyes/PRK/ICL), I have to tell you that it is not as simple as people think when it comes to your eligibility for LASIK or LASER refractive surgery.
It is dependent on multiple factors, and each factor has to be evaluated very carefully, so that we can perform your surgery with utmost safety and you never land up with complications.
BEFORE WE GET INTO DETAILS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR LASIK or SMILE SURGERY IS LIKE PIECES OF A PUZZLE AND ALL THE PIECES SHOULD FIT TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER TO FORM A COMPLETE PICTURE. IF ANY OF THE PIECES IS MISSING OR BROKEN, THEN YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR LASIK SURGERY.You can then consider the option of ICL or IPCL in your case
To simplify, here is a list of things which will tell you if you are eligible for LASIK or other LASER surgeries (SMILE / PRK / Wavelight Innoveyes / Femto-LASIK) to get your glasses removal done. I have also given some general guidelines that need to be fulfilled in most cases (exceptions may be there):
1. Age: At least more than 18 years of age
2. Your Glass power or number: LASIK surgery can only correct powers up to a certain extent. In most patients we prefer correcting up to -10.0 D power (with good corneal thickness), or up to +6.0 D power or up to 6 D Cylinder power. Indian corneas are generally thinner and thus we need to match your power with your corneal thickness to know if LASIK can be done safely
3. Stability of glass power: Your number should have been stable for at least 1 year (with variation of less than +/- 0.5D).
4. Corneal thickness: This is the most important determining factor for safety of the procedure. Cut off 500 microns thickness is followed for LASIK, SMILE, Femto-LASIK, Wavelight innoveyes and lower than that we can consider PRK surgery. Lesser than 470 microns of corneal thickness- laser surgery cannot be done.
5. Corneal topography / Pentacam scan: It gives us all details about your cornea and tells us if your cornea has signs of weakness (keratoconus), in which case no LASIK surgery can be done.
6. Retina Evaluation: High myopia patients often have weak areas in retina (called lattices) which needs to be lasered separately before undergoing LASIK surgery.
7.Dry Eye Evaluation: LASIK or any laser surgery causes increase in dryness, at least in the initial period. If someone is having moderate of severe dryness issues before hand, they need to be rectified first. With severe dryness LASER surgery should not be done. To know more about how dry eyes can happen after LASIK surgery, read our blog: Dry Eyes After LASIK or Refractive Surgery: Causes, Treatment & Prevention | Best Refractive Surgeon in India
8.Any systemic diseases: Like autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis, uncontrolled diabetes, etc should not be there before surgery.
9.Pregnancy/Lactation: Surgery cannot be done during pregnancy/breast feeding period
For evaluating all these things, your doctor will perform the following tests:
1. Complete refraction with and without dilatation
2. Corneal topography scan/ Pentacam scan
3. Dilated retina evaluation
4. Dry eye evaluation - Schirmer’s test, Dry eye analyzer
5. Complete detailed history to know any other issues.
6. All evaluations should be done after stopping contact lens use for at least one week and preferably 2 weeks
IS LASIK Surgery Safe?
Modern LASIK surgery is considered one of the safest medical procedures when performed by an experienced refractive surgery specialist using advanced technology.
However, success depends mainly on:
- • Proper patient selection
- • Correct testing
- • Experienced surgeon
- • Advanced laser technology
That is why eligibility testing and planning of surgery is more important than the surgery itself. To know more about common myths surrounding LASIK surgery, read our detailed blog here: Busting the Myths Around LASIK and Refractive Surgery | What You Really Need to Know
What If You Are Not Eligible for LASIK?
This is a very common fear. If your cornea is thin or you have moderate dry eyes, you may not be suitable for LASIK surgery.
But modern eye surgeries are not just limited to LASIK but offer multiple alternatives:
1. SMILE / SILK / CLEAR Laser Eye Surgery
A newer and minimally invasive procedure suitable for many patients who are not eligible for traditional LASIK, at least in some cases. Very small incision compared to LASIK.
2. PRK (Surface Laser)
Recommended for patients with thinner cornea.
3. ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) or IPCL
Best option for:
- • Very high power (possible to correct even upto -20.0 D power)
- • Thin cornea
- • Patients unsuitable for laser refractive surgery
So even if LASIK is not suitable, you may still have other safe options. ICL also is known to be extremely safe with excellent visual outcomes. To know more details about ICL surgery, go through our blog: "ICL Surgery Explained: Your Comprehensive Guide to Vision Correction"
BONUS TIP: People forget that you start getting near glass power as part of natural aging beyond the age of 40 years. so if you get LASIK surgery at 24 years of age, you get 16–17 years of completely glass free life. While if you get LASIK surgery done at 35 years of age, you only get 5–6 years of completely glass free life.
LASIK surgery can be life-changing for people who want to live without glasses. But the most important step is not the surgery — it is the eligibility evaluation.
If you are planning LASIK and searching for the best eye doctor for lasik surgery treatment in indirapuram or Noida, the safest approach is to undergo a detailed refractive surgery assessment before making any decision
A few tests today can help you enjoy clear vision for many years.
When it comes to LASIK or any refractive surgery, its the matter of safety more than anything else. So, the question “Can I do it?” is less important than “Should I do it?”
Why Choose Dr. Vikas Veerwal for Best LASIK Surgery Experience in Ghaziabad and Noida?
Searching for the best LASIK eye surgeon in Noida and Ghaziabad? Here’s why Dr. Vikas Veerwal stands out
👨⚕️ LASIK Expert with Advanced Training
- • Internationally trained refractive surgeon
- • Performs Standard LASIK, Blade-Free Femto LASIK, Contoura Vision, Wavelight plus Innoveyes and SMILE / CLEAR surgeries.
- • Considered best LASIK and SMILE surgeon by patients and doctors alike.
- • Has received awards for innovating a new technique in SMILE surgery making surgery easier for budding surgeons.
🔬 State-of-the-Art Technology
- • Equipped with Alcon WaveLight EX500, ZEISS MEL 90, Wavelight plus Innoveye, Contoura Vision, SMILE, CLEAR and Topography-Guided Systems
- • Ensures high precision, minimal side effects, and fast recovery
👁️ Personalized Care
- • Every eye is different. You get a tailored refractive surgery plan for best visual results. Dr Veerwal believes in completely personalized treatment, that’s why he provides best possible outcome to every patient.
🏥 Trusted by Thousands
- • Thousands of patients from Ghaziabad, Noida and Delhi-NCR have freed themselves from glasses under his care
Book Your Appointment Now
📍 Shreya Eye Centre, Jaipuria Mall, Indirapuram
📱 Call: 9811036639
🌐 Website: drvikasveerwal.com
📅 Open Mon–Sun (Wednesday closed) | Time: 10 AM – 7 PM
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are the most commonly searched questions related to LASIK eligibility on Google, Quora, and other platforms.
You can know your eligibility only after a detailed eye examination that includes corneal thickness testing, eye power measurement, and corneal topography. A refractive surgery specialist can confirm whether LASIK or another procedure is suitable.
If your power is still increasing rapidly, LASIK is usually postponed. Doctors prefer waiting until the glasses number has been stable for at least one year.
The ideal age for LASIK is usually between 18 and 40 years, provided the eye power is stable and the cornea is healthy. Beyond 40 years of age, you start getting glass power for reading (presbyopia) which cannot be corrected completely by LASIK surgery.
Patients with thin cornea may not be suitable for LASIK, but they may still be eligible for PRK, SMILE, or ICL depending on their eye condition and glass power. Right case selection becomes essential to provide you with the best outcomes for many years to come.
A complete LASIK evaluation usually takes 45–60 minutes and includes multiple tests to ensure safety. It includes taking your cornea scans, getting dry eye evaluation and doing a thorough retina evaluation after dilatation.
LASIK may be suitable for moderate to high power in some cases if the cornea is sufficiently thick, but extremely high power may require alternatives such as ICL or IPCL surgery
Yes, but contact lenses need to be stopped before the test. Soft lenses are usually stopped for 5–7 days, while hard lenses may require a longer break (around 2-3 weeks) prior to your testing for LASIK surgery.
Yes. Severe dry eye can affect healing after LASIK. However, mild dryness can often be treated before the procedure. We do specific tests to assess the level of dryness and then only proceed with LASIK surgery.
Yes, if they are above 18 years and their glasses power is stable. Many students undergo LASIK after finishing school or college. You can even get back to your studies from the very next day after LASIK surgery.
If LASIK is not suitable, other options such as SMILE, PRK, or ICL may still be safe and effective alternatives to get you freedom from glasses.
Dr Vikas Veerwal is considered as the best LASIK surgeon in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. You can easily book an appointment with him on this no. 9811036639. Along with vast clinical experience, Dr Veerwal believes in ethical and transparent practice and use of latest technologies to provide you with best outcomes. When it comes to asking for the best eye doctor in Noida for LASIK surgery, Dr Vikas Veerwal in amongst the top and trusted by 1000s of patients across Delhi-NCR.
If you are looking for the best eye doctor for LASIK or SMILE surgery in Ghaziabad, there is no one you can trust more than Dr Vikas Veerwal. With experience of more than 3000 refractive surgeries, he is considered one of the best LASIK surgeons in Ghaziabad and Noida area. Visit him for a free consultation today to know if you are eligible for LASIK or not.
