Am I a Candidate for Refractive or Laser Eye Surgery?

Refractive or laser eye surgery is not right for everyone. The qualifications of a good candidate for refractive or laser eye surgery generally include:

• At least 18 years of age
• Maintained stable vision over the past year
• Have no history of corneal disease
• Do not have significant medical or eye problems such as previous corneal ulcers, keratoconus (a progressive thinning of the cornea) diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, or glaucoma.
• Are not pregnant
• Despite improved vision, happy with the idea of possibly having to wear glasses under certain situations, such as driving at night.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute.

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Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, WebMD, October 2004.

Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2005

Last Editorial Review: 6/30/2005