Can Diet Make You a Better LASIK Candidate?

Most people who get screened for LASIK qualify for surgery. Only about 15% get screened out after getting evaluated.

There are several reasons you may not qualify for LASIK. This could include your age, prescription, or the thickness of your corneas.

But can you become a better candidate by eating differently? Maybe, but only in specific instances. Keep reading to learn if diet can make you a better LASIK candidate!

Nutrition and Eye Health

Your ocular health is closely tied with the nutrients you get in your diet. You may have heard of urban legends about people going blind because they eat nothing but junk food.

It’s pretty hard to go blind from eating an average diet. What is true, though, is eating a more nutrient-rich diet can help your eyes.

It can help lower your risk of developing conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration. These conditions are more likely to occur as we get older.

Some nutrients can also help your eyes produce higher-quality tears. This can do its part in helping to prevent dry eye syndrome.

Qualifying for LASIK

Many of the qualifying factors for LASIK are beyond your control. For instance, it isn’t safe to get LASIK if your cornea isn’t thick enough or your pupils are too big.

You cannot change the size of your cornea or pupils since it’s how you’re born. But one of the things that make getting LASIK difficult is having dry eye, or being prone to dry eye.

Dry Eye

Part of the screening process for LASIK involves assessing the quality of your tears. Your tears are made from mucus, oil, and water.

Dry eye is usually caused by having less water in your tears and more mucus and oil. If you’re prone to dry eye, recovery from LASIK can be very difficult. Keeping your eyes lubricated with high-quality tears is vital for them to heal.

But even if you’ve been screened for dry eye and you’re at risk, there are things you can do to improve your tear quality. It may be as simple as changing your diet.

Eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, folate, and vitamins A, B, and C improve tear quality and eye health. These foods include leafy vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts, beans, and bananas. You can also take nutritional supplements like fish oil.

Changing your diet or taking supplements isn’t guaranteed to cure your dry eye, but it’s a good first step of treatment. You may need further treatment as recommended by your doctor. But it’s also possible that all you need is better nutrition.

Maintaining Good Eye Health

Having a healthy lifestyle is the best way to have a healthy body and healthy eyes. Having a diet rich in nutrients can keep your eyes healthy longer and prevent conditions as you age.

But to qualify for LASIK, you sometimes need more than a set of healthy eyes. Not sure if you would be a good LASIK candidate?

Schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield in Sherman Oaks, CA today and find out!