You may have heard about laser eye surgery in the past as a way to correct vision. Laser eye surgery can restore your sight so you don't need to wear contacts or glasses. Though it may cost several thousands of dollars, patients can save money over time because they will no longer need visual correction. Here's what you need to know about qualifying as a candidate for laser eye surgery.

Has Your Eye Sight Continued to Degrade?

Laser eye surgery is ideally completed on patients after their vision has been stable for some time. If your prescription has been changing year to year, you may not be a good candidate for the procedure. If your vision is changing rapidly, laser eye surgery may not be able to help yet. You could complete the surgery but need to quickly correct your vision again thereafter.

Are You Below the Age of 25?

Even if your eyes have remained static for a few years, being too young could temporarily disqualify you from laser eye surgery. Before you hit your mid-20s, it's very likely that your eyes are going to change. 

Do You Have Large Pupils?

It may seem strange, but the size of your pupils matters during laser eye surgery. If your pupils are large, you may experience some negative side effects to laser surgery. Large pupils can lead to halos, starbursts, glares, and other vision issues. Even if your ability to focus has been corrected, you may see poorly through this. 

Are Your Corneas Too Thin?

Laser eye surgery involves slicing off a thin portion of a patient's cornea to reshape it, therefore making it focus better just like reshaping a mechanical lens. If your corneas are too thin, it can be dangerous to reduce it even further. An optometrist can check the thickness of your cornea to see whether or not this might be a risk.

Do You Have Any Diseases?

There are some diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, that can substantially interfere with your recovery from laser eye surgery. If you have a serious medical issue, you should bring it up with your eye doctor. 

Your optometrist will know more about whether you're a good candidate for laser eye surgery. It's important to note that a laser eye surgery may need to be completed again if your vision degrades over time. Regardless, it can be a great way to improve your vision conveniently and effectively. Talk to a local optometrist, such as Leone Nicholas MD PC, to schedule an appointment to see if laser eye surgery is right for you.