Hi, I just had an evaluation done because I want to do LASIK this month. My doctor did say that I am a candidate, but I do have 7mm pupils, which I understand is slightly larger than average (they used corneal mapping and a dilated eye exam). I do, however, have larger than average corneal thickness (I don't know the number, sorry). My prescription is about -4.5 in my left eye and
-3.5 in my right eye with very , very slight astigmatisms. The doctor recommended using the Bausch and Lomb Technolas laser. What is your opinion? I have spoken with some other doctors who said they would use the VISX laser on me, but the B & L is good also (I guess they don't have access to the B & L). The B & L literature says something about 9mm area (treatment area?), larger than most other lasers. I am going to go to my optometrist to have my pupils measured again just to be on the safe side. Do you think this is the right way to go? I am scheduled to have it in a couple of weeks!

Nancy, I will let the doctors weigh in on which is the right laser to use. I would definitely agree with your plan to have your pupil size rechecked. I just cancelled my lasik last week because I found out (the day of surgery) that I had 9mm pupils. Prior to that 2 optometrists had told me I was at 7mm. It sounds to me that it's a VERY IMPORTANT difference between 7 and 9.

I've learned there are lots of different ways to measure pupil size. How dim the room is when being measured can make a difference too. Personally I would like to be get a pupillometer reading(or whatever the device is called which uses infrared to measure pupil size, thereby taking room light out the equation). I was to be treated with the Autonomous laser which would have given me a 7.5mm treatment zone (my eyes are around -5.5). So if you're really 7mm at least you should be able to find a laser somewhere that will work, but do your homework first! You have more at stake than anyone else in this process.