Laser eye surgery can correct vision issues and reduce the need to wear glasses or contacts. LASIK can treat astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. An expert uses a laser to reshape your cornea to adjust your eye’s focusing ability. Age can be a determining factor for the ideal time to get this procedure.
Is There an Age Limit For LASIK?
The right candidates for LASIK can be patients with refractive eye error who are 21 years or older. At this age, your vision has stabilized, and you can undergo the procedure. Having surgery when you’re too young can mean your cornea is too weak, and this could lead to complications.
Provided you are above 21 years, there isn’t an age limit for LASIK eye surgery. You can get LASIK eye surgery if you’ve had the same prescription for a few years. An ophthalmologist might need to assess other factors such as your lifestyle, overall health, and previous surgeries. This expert will also examine your corneal thickness to determine if you’re a good candidate for LASIK.
Mid-Twenties and Thirties
Your eyes can change from birth until when you’re in your twenties. At this age, your health can be in optimal condition, and you might not have dry eyes, which disqualifies you from the procedure. Between your mid-twenties and thirties, your prescription should be stable enough to qualify for LASIK.
This age can be when you have many hours of screen time or study and use contacts or glasses most of the time. During this age, you can be busy, and inserting contact lenses might not be practical. Getting LASIK can help reduce your reliance on contacts or prescription glasses when you have a busy lifestyle.
Forties
In your forties, presbyopia can start affecting you. This can lead to challenges in seeing things close to you clearly. Common symptoms of farsightedness include:
- Blurred vision
- Eye strain or headache after doing close-up work or reading
- Holding reading material farther away to make letters clear
At this age, laser eye surgery can correct farsightedness, but you may need to wear glasses to see near objects. Some ophthalmologists use advanced technology to provide more accurate, precise outcomes. With proper treatment, your need to wear glasses can reduce with time.
Fifties and Beyond
In your fifties, presbyopia tends to advance due to age. Other eye health issues like glaucoma, dry eyes, and cataracts can develop and interfere with LASIK surgery candidacy. Visit an ophthalmologist to have these eye problems assessed. They will be able to suggest proper treatment.
You can get LASIK, even in your fifties, if you don’t have other underlying eye issues. Once an expert performs an eye exam, you can be approved for the procedure. Besides things related to your age, a professional may ask you about your medical history and prescription drug use. Your ophthalmologist should know about pre-existing health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for LASIK?
If your eye prescription is unstable, you might not be considered for LASIK eye surgery. Some prescription drugs like steroids can delay healing after your surgery. Patients with autoimmune diseases can have dry eye syndrome, which might disqualify them from the procedure.
If you’re pregnant or nursing, your doctor can suggest you wait for a few months. During this time, hormone fluctuations can cause changes to your vision and corrective prescription, interfering with results.
Book a Consultation for Laser Eye Surgery
You can get laser eye surgery from your twenties and beyond. An ophthalmologist can assess your eye health to determine if you’re the right candidate for LASIK. Book a consultation to discuss with a surgeon if LASIK suits you.
