How Stable Does Your Vision Need to Be Before Surgery?

If you’ve been considering refractive surgery, you may be wondering how stable your prescription needs to be before moving forward. Vision stability is one of the most important factors surgeons evaluate when determining whether you’re a good candidate.
 

What Is Vision Stability?

Vision stability refers to how consistent your prescription has been over a period of time. If your glasses or contact lens prescription continues to change, your eyes may not be ready for refractive surgery.

Most eye surgeons look for:

• Minimal to no change in prescription over the past 12 months

• Predictable vision measurements during pre-surgery exams

• Stable corneal shape and thickness

• Healthy eye structures free from active conditions

A stable prescription helps ensure that the results of your surgery will last and meet your expectations.
 

Why Stability Matters Before Laser Eye Surgery

Laser vision correction works by reshaping the cornea so that light enters the eye more accurately. However, if your prescription is still changing, the results may not stay precise over time. This is why having stable vision before surgery is so important.
 

When your prescription has remained consistent, your surgeon can customize the procedure with confidence, knowing your vision needs are unlikely to shift again soon. Stability also lowers the chances of needing a retreatment later, as fluctuating prescriptions can increase the likelihood of requiring an enhancement procedure. Additionally, a stable prescription allows for more accurate pre-surgery measurements, which leads to clearer, more predictable surgical planning and ultimately sharper, long-lasting visual results.
 

How Do You Know If Your Vision Is Stable?

Your eye doctor will look at multiple factors, including:

• Changes in your prescription over the past year or more

• Corneal mapping results

• Age-related patterns (vision typically stabilizes in your early to mid-20s)

• Any underlying eye conditions such as dry eye, keratoconus, or diabetes-related fluctuations

During your laser eye surgery consultation in Columbia, TN, our team at Essential Eyes Columbia will perform a detailed evaluation to determine whether your vision has reached the point of stability needed for safe and successful surgery.
 

Ready to Explore Your Candidacy for Laser Eye Surgery?

Vision stability is one of the most important requirements before undergoing refractive surgery. Ensuring your prescription has remained consistent helps create long-lasting, reliable results. If you're curious about whether you're ready for LASIK or another procedure, our team is here to guide you.
 

Schedule your laser eye surgery consultation at Essential Eyes Columbia to take the next step toward clearer sight. Visit our office in Columbia, Tennessee, or call (931) 380-2660 to book an appointment today.