Large Pupils May Rule Out LASIK Candidacy

Most discussions about being a candidate for LASIK surgery center on the condition of your cornea. There is a good reason for this. LASIK is a surgical procedure that reshapes your cornea in order to correct refractive errors in your vision. Consequently, people with corneas that are too thin, too steep, or too irregularly shaped may experience a greater likelihood of complications from LASIK, ruling them out as candidates for the procedure.

However, another factor affecting LASIK candidacy that is much less frequently talked about is the size of your pupils. Your pupil is the opening in the center of the iris that lets light into your eye. The size of your pupil changes based on the lighting conditions present at any given time. In bright light, your pupils will get smaller, allowing less light to penetrate. In low light conditions, your pupils will grow larger so that more light can pass into your eye.

Under normal lighting conditions, the diameter of an average sized pupil is 3 millimeters. However, the majority of pupils fall under a wider range, generally 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters. Those with pupils that naturally fall in the larger end of this range during normal lighting conditions may experience a greater chance of LASIK complications.

Frequently, people with large pupils have a greater risk of developing halos after LASIK. This could pose a particular problem when driving at night. At your initial consultation, your LASIK surgeon will evaluate a variety of factors, including the size of your pupils, before determining whether you are a suitable candidate for LASIK.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.