Overview
A LASIK consult is a screening appointment, not a sales appointment — or it should not be one. Its job is to measure your cornea and decide whether laser correction is safe and likely to give you a good result, and to say so plainly when it is not.
A meaningful share of people who ask about LASIK are not good candidates: thin corneas, unstable prescriptions, severe dry eye and early keratoconus all rule it out or point toward a different procedure.
What happens during the visit?
- Detailed corneal mapping (topography) and thickness measurement.
- A dilated exam and a careful refraction, often with your contacts out for days or weeks beforehand.
- A dry eye assessment — dry eye tends to get worse before it gets better after surgery.
- A frank discussion of alternatives: PRK, SMILE, implantable lenses, or simply staying in glasses.
- Realistic expectations about night vision, dryness and the chance of needing reading glasses later anyway.
Who should book one?
Adults with a prescription that has been stable for at least a year, healthy corneas, and realistic expectations. Generally not suitable if you are pregnant or nursing, have uncontrolled diabetes or an autoimmune condition, or have keratoconus.
How to prepare
- Stop wearing soft contacts for at least a week before the measurements — longer for rigid lenses. Ask when you book.
- Bring your prescription history if you have it; stability over time is the key question.
- Arrange a driver. You will almost certainly be dilated.
- Write your questions down, especially about cost, what a re-treatment would cost, and who handles complications.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Only an eye care professional who has examined you can tell you what is actually going on.