Are you worried that you are too old or too young for LASIK? Are you over having to wear your glasses and contacts?
Getting LASIK eye surgery could be a great option for you. Even though there are many age requirements for different things in life, there is no “ideal” age for LASIK. Keep reading to learn more!
You Must Be At Least 18 To Get LASIK
When it comes to age and LASIK, you must be at least 18 years old to get the procedure. Why? The FDA has only approved LASIK for those that are 18 years and older.
Part of this is because to get LASIK, your eyes need to be stable for at least a year. If you are still a teenager, it’s likely your eyes are still changing.
Though you can get LASIK at the age of 18, many surgeons recommend waiting. Most prefer patients to be in their mid-twenties before undergoing LASIK.
The age range that is most common for patients to get LASIK eye surgery is between 20 to 40 years old. While this is the most common time to get LASIK, there are anomalies.
Even though doctors prefer to wait until patients are in their mid-twenties to get LASIK, some people get LASIK earlier. These individuals can be professional athletes, first responders, and military personnel.
These individuals are only approved for LASIK once their eye doctor conducts a screening, where they meet other qualifications.
Age May Not Be The Biggest Factor For LASIK Candidacy
Although you can get LASIK when you’re older, it may not be the right procedure. Around the age of 40, your vision starts changing again.
During this time, some adults begin to need reading glasses. People start needing reading glasses due to a condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs when the lens becomes less flexible, making it harder to focus on detailed tasks.
LASIK cannot correct presbyopia. There are other vision correction options available that correct presbyopia. If you don’t have cataracts and have presbyopia, you may want to consider a procedure called refractive lens exchange, or RLE.
Often Eye Health Is More Important Than Being Too Old
If you don’t have cataracts and still want LASIK, you may still be a candidate for the procedure. It is possible that a 70-year-old with healthy eyes is a better candidate than a 30-year-old with diabetes and dry eyes.
While age is a factor to consider for LASIK candidacy, as long as they are at least 18 years old, it won’t disqualify them. If you meet the basic qualifications, then you can be a good candidate.
The bigger factor taken into consideration is the health of your eyes. People with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy are not LASIK candidates.
Additionally, you do not need to be perfectly healthy to be a good candidate. Some medical conditions will not negatively affect your eyes. During a LASIK consultation, mention all medical conditions you have for accurate results.
Are you ready to see if you are a good candidate for LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Manhattan, NY today! If you’re tired of the frustrations that come with glasses and contacts, LASIK may be the solution for you!
