The Truth Behind Age And Your LASIK Procedure

LASIK continues to grow in popularity as more people who have blurred vision decide they’re done dealing with contacts and glasses every day. Fortunately, LASIK eye centers across Los Angeles like Excel Laser Vision Institute have had major success with patients of varying ages, so how significant of a role does age exactly play in a patient’s eligibility for the surgery? The answer is a little complicated.

Firstly, it’s definitely possible to be too young to undergo LASIK. This is because younger people commonly experience repeated shifts in their prescriptions, which generally makes them bad candidates for LASIK. According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, a good candidate has not experienced any changes in their prescription for at least two consecutive years. This is why the age requirement has been set to 18; by the beginning of adulthood, many people will begin to achieve the stabilized prescription necessary for the surgery. 

Ages 18 to 25

Despite being the appropriate age for the surgery, there is no guarantee you won’t still experience occasional shifts in your vision during these ages. In fact, people between these ages may still experience variations in their prescriptions. If you fall into this age group, your surgeon will probably only declare you a good candidate for surgery if you have kept the same prescription for a certain number of years. If you have had a change in prescription, you will likely be told that it is in your best interest to wait a few more years for optimal results. 

Ages 25 to 40

Based on age alone, people in this age group are considered to be best suited for receiving LASIK because our vision is most likely to finally stabilize after age 25. If you fall into this age group, have a stable prescription, and meet the other necessary qualifications, you are considered a good candidate for LASIK. 

Ages 40 to 55

At this stage, people begin to experience age-related vision problems. If you fall into this age group, it is still possible to be considered a good candidate for LASIK; you and your surgeon will just have to discuss more in-depth what role your age, health, habits, and medication may play in the results of your surgery. 

Ages 55+

Unlike being too young, being too old isn’t necessarily a deciding factor for whether or not you can get LASIK. As long as their health is good, LASIK is considered a viable option for people of this age group. However, there are unfortunately many factors that are associated with old age that may make seniors ineligible for LASIK. For example, cataracts are common during this stage of life, and if an interested patient is found to have cataracts, LASIK is no longer an appropriate option. However, once the patient has removed cataracts via cataract surgery, the possibility of undergoing LASIK can be revisited. 

While age does play a role in your eligibility for LASIK eye surgery, its scope is limited and it is not the ultimate deciding factor when a surgeon is deciding your candidacy. In order to find out definitively whether you would make an ideal candidate for laser eye surgery, schedule a consultation with a Los Angeles LASIK surgeon such as Doctor Moosa today.