Our eyesight naturally changes as we age, so it makes sense that people of all ages want to access laser eye surgery. Before we get into the eligibility of different age groups, let’s outline LASIK itself.
LASIK is a procedure where the cornea of the eye is reshaped with laser beams to help correct eye conditions like astigmatism. It also treats near and farsightedness, so people are freed from the restrictions and ongoing costs of wearing glasses or contact lenses. You will need to complete an assessment with your chosen clinic to make sure you’re a good candidate before the procedure is scheduled.
The surgery generally takes less than 30 minutes, and you’ll need someone to drive you home afterwards. Your eyes will feel gritty or uncomfortable straight afterwards, and you may have blurred vision, but this should clear within a few days. You’ll be given aftercare advice by your clinic and likely need to use eye drops for a few weeks after the surgery to help you heal.
It’s considered a safe procedure, especially as your eligibility is assessed beforehand, but there are risks as with any surgery. Your clinic will make sure you understand the risks, but around 25 million people in the US have chosen LASIK since the 1990s, so many people think it’s worth it.
Important Age Restrictions
- People under 18 cannot get LASIK (some procedures require age 21+)
- FDA has only approved LASIK for adults over 18
- Eyes are still developing during teenage years, making early surgery ineffective
- If performed too early, the procedure would likely need to be redone
We’ll now go through the guidelines for different age groups, but keep in mind that each patient is looked at individually, so there are no hard rules when it comes to age and LASIK, it will depend on your personal circumstances.
LASIK for Young Adults (18-40 years old)
This is the ideal age range for LASIK and therefore the most likely to be approved. Our eyesight is generally at its best between 19 and 40, so you’re probably going to meet the stable prescription requirement for LASIK. This requires there to have been little change in your vision in the last one to two years, depending on the clinic.
This guideline exists because LASIK makes minute changes to your corneas and is carefully calibrated based on your prescription at the time of the procedure. If your prescription is continually changing, then your results won’t last. Assuming you meet this requirement, you’ll also need to be in good general health and have healthy eyes.
Your clinic will also do a full eye exam during your initial consultation to measure things like the thickness of your corneas and the size of your pupils. Most people in this age group who meet the basic health requirements are excellent candidates for the procedure.
LASIK for Middle-Aged Adults (40-60 years old)
Many people within this age group will be eligible for LASIK too, as eyesight typically stops changing at around 40, so you’ll likely meet the stable prescription requirement we mentioned above. However, something called presbyopia can take over from far or nearsightedness in this age bracket.
Presbyopia is a normal part of aging, sometimes called age-related farsightedness. It happens because the lenses in our eyes begin to stiffen as we age, so they don’t focus light on the back of our eye as well as they once did. This is combined with the fact that the muscles in our eyes that help our lenses focus become weaker as we age.
Treatment Options for Presbyopia
- Monovision LASIK (one eye corrected for distance, one for close vision)
- Brain naturally blends the two images together
- Results may not be permanent as presbyopia can progress
- Your clinic will help assess if it’s a good investment for your situation
If you have no presbyopia or it’s in early stages, you’ll likely be able to have LASIK as long as you meet the health requirements. Many people in this age group have worn glasses or contact lenses for several years and have grown tired of them, so they are looking for another option, and LASIK can provide it.
LASIK for Seniors (60+ years old)
Some clinics see 60 as a cut-off point for LASIK, but others assess patients over 60 on a case-by-case basis. You’re very likely to have presbyopia by now, and if it’s severe, then you likely won’t be a candidate for LASIK.
This is also the age when people may begin to develop cataracts, and if your lens is very clouded, you won’t be able to have LASIK. Laser eye surgery shapes the cornea and doesn’t affect the lens, so you wouldn’t get good results with cataracts present. However, cataracts aren’t guaranteed as we age, and you could develop them later than 60. It’s also possible to combine lens replacement and LASIK in some cases to solve both issues.
You will still need a stable prescription and good health like other age groups, so you’ll have to speak to a clinic about any medications you’re taking. As long as you choose a clinic that sees you as an individual rather than just an age bracket, LASIK is still a possibility in this age range.
Approximately 85% of adults are eligible for laser eye surgery, and it has a high success rate for vision correction. If you’re tired of glasses or are looking for freedom from the blurry vision that various eye conditions can bring, the key is finding a clinic that will properly assess your individual situation rather than making assumptions based on age alone.
At IQ Laser Vision, we approach our patients as the individuals they are, not just an age bracket. We have a passion for helping people explore the possibility of a life without glasses and contact lenses, and we’d like to help you too.
