To qualify for LASIK, your prescription needs to remain stable—unchanged—for at least 12 months.
Stability is crucial because performing LASIK on a fluctuating prescription may lead to unsatisfying long-term results, including a chance of future corrective surgeries.
Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, commonly known as LASIK, is an advanced and life-changing procedure for those seeking freedom from glasses or contact lenses. However, not everyone is immediately ready for this type of surgery. One of the most important factors that ophthalmologists evaluate when determining a patient’s eligibility for LASIK is the stability of their vision prescription.
This post will guide you through the specifics of what stability means in the context of LASIK, why it matters, what to consider, and how to ensure your prescription is ready for this life-changing procedure.
Why Does Prescription Stability Matter?
The success of LASIK surgery largely depends on creating a permanent adjustment to the cornea that aligns with your current vision needs. If your prescription changes after surgery, you may still need glasses or another corrective procedure to compensate for the new visual defect.
Here’s why stability is critical:
- Long-term Results: A changing prescription could lead to a less effective surgery. LASIK provides the best results when it matches your consistent vision needs.
- Avoiding Enhancements: Enhancing or redoing LASIK surgery later is possible but adds risk, cost, and inconvenience. Having a stable prescription reduces the need for corrective follow-ups.
- Healing and Adjustments: Your cornea heals based on the prescription correction performed during LASIK. If your vision changes during or after healing, the corrected results may no longer meet your needs.
Understanding “Stable Prescription”
A stable prescription means that the corrective lenses required to achieve optimal vision have not changed significantly over a certain period—typically 12 to 24 months. The term “significant change” is generally defined as:
- A variation of less than 0.5 diopters in spherical or cylindrical measurements.
- Minimal or no progression in conditions like astigmatism or presbyopia.
Most surgeons look for consistency in your recorded vision tests over several visits before they clear you for LASIK.
Determining Stability
Stability isn’t something patients can self-assess. Eye care professionals evaluate your prescription based on several tests conducted during regular appointments. Here’s what they consider:
- Optical History: Your eyeglass or contact lens prescription records from the past 1–2 years.
- Habitual Adjustments: If you’ve needed frequent or substantial changes in your glasses or contact lenses, this may indicate instability.
- Underlying Conditions: Factors like age, medical history, and any eye conditions (e.g., keratoconus or diabetes-related vision issues) are also assessed to ensure your prescription’s stability.
What Factors Affect Prescription Stability?
Several factors can influence how stable or unstable your prescription might be. Understanding these elements will help you better predict whether you’re close to being a LASIK candidate or need additional time for stabilisation.
1. Age
Your age plays a significant role in prescription stability. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Early Years (Teens to Mid-20s): Prescriptions tend to fluctuate quite a bit during adolescence and early adulthood due to the ongoing development of the eye.
- Mid-20s to Early 40s: Most people’s prescriptions stabilise during this phase as their eyes complete their natural growth. This is the prime time for LASIK.
- Late 40s and Beyond: Age-related changes like presbyopia—a natural loss of near-focus ability—can begin to affect your prescription. LASIK can correct distance vision but not presbyopia.
2. Eye Strain and Lifestyle
Frequent activities that place high demands on your eyes, such as extensive screen time or lack of rest, may cause temporary fluctuations in your vision. Persistent strain over time can also alter your prescription.
3. Health Conditions
Certain medical conditions can impact prescription stability:
- Diabetes can cause irregular fluctuations in vision due to changes in blood sugar levels.
- Thyroid Disorders sometimes affect eye health, altering prescriptions.
Managing these conditions is crucial to achieving prescription stability.
4. Pregnancy and Hormonal Changes
Women may notice significant vision changes during pregnancy or due to hormonal shifts. Pregnancy-related alterations are usually temporary, but LASIK candidates are typically advised to wait until after pregnancy to ensure stability.
5. Medications
Some medications, including steroids, can temporarily alter vision. Make sure your eye care professional knows about any medications you’re taking.
How to Ensure Prescription Stability
If your prescription has been fluctuating or you’re unsure whether you meet the stability criteria, follow these steps to improve the chances of becoming a LASIK candidate:
1. Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Annual or bi-annual tests help track changes in your vision.
2. Address Underlying Issues
If health conditions like diabetes are affecting your prescription, work with a healthcare provider to stabilise those conditions first.
3. Adopt Eye-Healthy Habits
- Limit screen time to reduce strain.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule (look away from your screen every 20 minutes, focusing on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
- Ensure proper lighting when reading or working.
4. Ensure Proper Lens Usage
Wear your prescribed glasses or contact lenses regularly and update them when needed. This helps avoid unnecessary strain or fluctuations.
5. Avoid Temporary Stimulants
Skip products or activities that may cause temporary changes, such as unregulated eye drops or overexposure to digital devices without breaks.
Are You a Candidate for LASIK?
While prescription stability is crucial, it’s not the only factor in determining LASIK eligibility. Here are other factors that are evaluated:
- Age (must usually be over 18, though younger patients often aren’t ideal due to shifting prescriptions).
- Corneal Thickness (sufficient corneal thickness ensures a safe reshaping process).
- Overall Eye Health (free from conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or severe dry eye).
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Status (hormonal changes during these periods impact stability).
FAQs About Prescription Stability and LASIK
Q1. What happens if my prescription isn’t stable before LASIK?
If your prescription is unstable and LASIK proceeds anyway, there’s a higher risk that your vision will continue to change, leading to potentially unsatisfactory results. This could require additional corrective surgeries.
Q2. Can LASIK stabilise my fluctuating prescription?
LASIK does not stabilise a fluctuating prescription. It adjusts the cornea to correct your current prescription, so it’s best to wait until your prescription naturally stabilises.
Q3. Can contact lens wear affect my prescription stability?
Extended or improper use of contact lenses can temporarily alter the shape of your cornea, impacting your prescription. Most surgeons recommend discontinuing contact lens use several days or weeks before your vision assessment for LASIK.
Final Thoughts
Having a stable prescription is a vital requirement for LASIK but also a sign that your eyes are ready for long-term correction. For most potential LASIK candidates, waiting for prescription stability isn’t just about meeting criteria—it’s a step toward achieving the best possible outcome with this revolutionary procedure.
If you’ve been debating LASIK and want to determine whether your prescription is stable enough, schedule a comprehensive evaluation with your eye care professional. It’s the first step toward a clear, hassle-free vision!
