For many people, the idea of waking up with clear vision, no glasses slipping down your nose, no dry contact lenses, no fumbling for your frames on the nightstand — sounds life-changing. That’s exactly what LASIK offers. LASIK is one of the most popular and effective procedures for reducing dependence on corrective lenses, with millions of satisfied patients worldwide. At Inland Eye LASIK, we specialize in helping patients throughout the Inland Empire discover whether they qualify for this vision-transforming procedure.
But LASIK isn’t for everyone. Success depends on several factors, like age, eye health, and lifestyle. The good news? Many people who are tired of glasses or contacts are strong candidates. And if you’ve been thinking about it, now is the perfect time to explore LASIK — especially if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA). Planning ahead, even as early as September, ensures you’ll make the most of your benefits without running into year-end scheduling or reimbursement issues.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the five key signs that you’re a good LASIK candidate, why timing your procedure with your FSA/HSA matters, and what to do if LASIK isn’t the right fit.
1. You’re 18 or Older with a Stable Prescription
One of the first things we check is whether you’re at least 18 years old. That’s because younger eyes are still developing and their prescriptions can shift. We also want to see that your glasses or contact prescription has been stable for at least one year. A changing prescription can compromise the lasting effectiveness of LASIK.
2. Healthy Eyes, No Active Infections or Serious Disease
LASIK involves reshaping the cornea, so overall eye health is crucial. If you’ve had recent eye infections, injuries, or have corneal disease or cataracts, those might need to be addressed first. Other conditions, like uncontrolled glaucoma, may also disqualify or complicate the procedure. Having healthy, appropriately thick corneas is one of the good candidate requirements.
3. Not Pregnant or Nursing
Hormonal changes during pregnancy or while nursing affect vision. These changes can alter your prescription and corneal shape, making the results less predictable. It’s best to wait until hormones have stabilized before undergoing LASIK.
4. Minimal Dry Eye (or Willing to Treat It First)
Dry eye syndrome can interfere with healing after LASIK. If you have significant dry eye, you may experience discomfort, slower recovery, or less-than-ideal outcomes. But this doesn’t automatically disqualify you — if dry eye is treatable (with drops, lifestyle changes, etc.), resolving or controlling it prior to surgery can help. Inland Eye checks for this as part of the evaluation.
5. You’re Tired of Glasses or Contacts — Motivated for Change
This might sound simple, but motivation is important. LASIK isn’t completely risk-free; it involves some recovery time, and results vary. If you’re truly tired of relying on glasses or contacts — dealing with fogging, smudging, lenses drying out, or just the hassle — you’re more likely to be satisfied with the trade-offs. Also, wanting more independence in vision (for sports, work, or everyday life) is a strong motivator.
Why Not Use Your FSA/HSA Funds Too Early
Many people with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have money that will expire or lose rollover value by the end of the plan year. It might be tempting to schedule LASIK in September just to use those funds. However, there are good reasons to plan your procedure carefully:
- Pre-Procedure Costs: Before LASIK surgery, there are evaluations, tests, perhaps pre-treatment of dry eye or other conditions. Some of these pre-op appointments may occur weeks or even months before the actual procedure. If you rush, you may find that not all pre-op work is done in time, or you end up paying extra for expedited testing.
- Recovery & Follow-Ups: LASIK includes follow-ups after surgery. If you have your surgery too late in the year, those follow-ups may stretch into the next calendar year, complicating which year’s FSA/HSA funds or health insurance benefits apply.
- Appointment Availability: Doctors and surgical centers tend to get more booked toward year-end as people try to use their benefits. If you wait until November/December, you may find limited scheduling options.
- Benefit Deadlines & Documentation: Some FSAs require expense substantiation or submission by certain dates. If you incur costs late in the year but don’t submit on time, you might lose eligibility for reimbursement.
Start planning as early as September — get your LASIK evaluation, line up pre-treatments if needed, and secure your surgery date before the end-of-year rush.
When LASIK Maybe Isn’t Right (or You Need Alternatives)
If you don’t meet all of the criteria, it doesn’t automatically mean LASIK is out forever. Some people are better candidates for PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy), especially if corneal thickness is borderline or if there’s more risk of flap-related complications. Others may need treatments for dry eye first. Inland Eye offers alternatives and will walk you through what makes the most sense in your case.
Conclusion
Deciding whether LASIK is right for you involves more than just wanting better vision—it’s about timing, medical readiness, and realistic expectations. If you check most of the “signs” above, you’re probably a good candidate. But even if you don’t, that doesn’t mean giving up hope—there are often treatments or alternative procedures that can help.
If you’re curious whether you qualify, schedule a free LASIK evaluation with Inland Eye LASIK. Our team will assess your eyes, go over your options (including alternatives), and help you plan your surgery — so you can use your FSA or HSA funds wisely and avoid the last-minute year-end rush.
