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Minimum Age for Lasik Surgery - Age Limit Explained by Doctors

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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Aman Priya Khanna
Written by Shivani Arora, last updated on 9 March 2023| min read
Minimum Age for Lasik Surgery - Age Limit Explained by Doctors

Quick Summary

  • LASIK surgery is a laser eye surgery that corrects vision problems
  • The minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18 years old
  • The benefits of LASIK surgery include improved vision, reduced dependency on glasses or contact lenses, and a faster recovery time

Have you been struggling with eye-related problems? Is your vision blurry? If you are facing eye-related issues, then you may need LASIK surgery. But before you proceed towards getting that surgery done, you must know the essentials, such as the minimum age for LASIK surgery, the benefits of this surgery, the do’s and the don’ts, and much more.

Before we start with the LASIK surgery age limit, it is first essential to understand what exactly this surgery is all about and its many benefits. Continue reading!

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

One of the most popular laser surgeries for eyes, Laser-assisted Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery, is a special type of cutting laser used to change the cornea’s shape accurately. Cornea is the clear dome-shaped tissue at the front of the eye. LASIK is primarily used to improve the vision and help eliminate eye-related problems, glasses, and contact lenses. 

To make the most of this surgery and save yourself from any future problems or troubles, it is vital that you strictly follow the basic rules. 

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Factors Affecting LASIK Eligibility

LASIK is one of the most effective ways to eliminate eye-related issues permanently. However, not everyone is eligible for this surgery. Several factors can affect LASIK eligibility. Some of these factors include:

  1. Age: LASIK is generally performed on individuals who are at least 18 years old. This is because the eyes of younger people may still be changing, and it is important to ensure that their prescription has stabilised before undergoing LASIK.
  2. Prescription stability: As mentioned, a person's prescription needs to have stabilised before undergoing LASIK. Their prescription should not have changed significantly in the past year.
  3. Eye health: Certain eye conditions or diseases, such as cataracts or glaucoma, may make a person ineligible for LASIK. In addition, individuals with thin or irregular corneas may not be good candidates for the procedure.
  4. Overall health: Certain health conditions, such as autoimmune disorders or diabetes, may affect a person's ability to heal properly after LASIK surgery.
  5. Medications: Some medications, such as medications used to treat acne, can affect a person's eligibility for LASIK. It is important to discuss any medications you are taking with your eye doctor.
  6. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: LASIK surgery is generally not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, as hormonal changes during these times can affect the shape of the cornea.

It is important to discuss all of these factors with your eye doctor to determine whether LASIK is a good option for you.

The Role of Age in LASIK

The role of age in LASIK is an important factor in determining a patient's eligibility for the procedure. Some of the factors to consider include:

  1. Minimum age: The FDA-approved minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18 years old. This is because the eyes continue to develop and change throughout childhood and adolescence, and it's important to ensure that the eye prescription has stabilised before surgery.
  2. Maximum age: There is no maximum age for LASIK surgery, as long as the patient's eyes are healthy and they meet other eligibility criteria. However, older patients may have other age-related eye conditions that could affect their candidacy for LASIK.
  3. Presbyopia: Presbyopia is a condition that affects most people over the age of 40, causing difficulty with close-up vision. LASIK can correct distance vision, but it cannot correct presbyopia. Patients with presbyopia may still be candidates for LASIK, but they may need to use reading glasses for close-up tasks after the procedure.
  4. Cataracts: Cataracts are a common age-related condition that causes clouding of the eye's natural lens. LASIK cannot correct cataracts, but patients with cataract surgery may still be candidates for LASIK.
  5. Overall health: Age-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune disorders can affect LASIK candidacy. It's important to discuss any health conditions with a LASIK surgeon to determine if they will affect eligibility for the procedure.

LASIK Eye Surgery Age Limit Recommendations

For any surgery to deliver 100% results, you must follow the associated rules. It is not just your physical health that needs to be in order, but you should also be eligible as per your age. If you are wondering about the minimum age for LASIK surgery, the following points will solve your confusion.

Below 18 years: Childhood and the teens 

  1. The eyes continue to grow until a person reaches 18 years of age. As the child grows, it is natural for their number or vision to fluctuate.
  2. These fluctuations might make the surgery less effective. Considering this factor, eye experts globally recommend LASIK surgery age to be more than 18.
  3. Having said that, it is also crucial to know that in several cases, LASIK eye surgery has been done for children and that the results have been highly successful. To know best, you should always follow the doctor’s consultation.

18 to 40 years: Early adulthood 

  1. This is the ideal LASIK age limit. 18 years is usually considered the minimum age for LASIK surgery.
  2. When the prescription for glasses has been stable for a year or more, doctors use laser vision correction or LASIK surgery to eliminate vision-related problems.

40 to 60 years: Middle age 

  1. Presbyopia begins to settle in after the age of 40. People are more likely to develop vision problems where they cannot clearly see objects close or far from them.
  2. In such cases, LASIK eye surgery has been known to obtain the desired results and provide freedom from both poor vision and glasses.

60 years and above: The golden age 

  1. One of the best things about LASIK eye surgery is that it does not have a maximum age limit. All patients above 60 who are not suffering from any chronic diseases can get this treatment done.  

Risks and Benefits of LASIK Surgery at Different Ages

LASIK surgery is a popular and effective treatment for vision correction. However, the risks and benefits of LASIK surgery may vary depending on the patient's age. Here are some of the risks and benefits of LASIK surgery at different ages:

In patients in their 20s and 30s

  1. Benefits: Patients in their 20s and 30s generally have good overall health and strong healing capabilities, which can help reduce the risk of complications and improve the success rate of LASIK surgery.
  2. Risks: Younger patients may experience changes in their vision after LASIK surgery due to the natural aging process. In addition, patients in this age group may be more prone to developing dry eyes after surgery.

In patients in their 40s and 50s

  1. Benefits: LASIK surgery can effectively correct age-related vision changes, such as presbyopia, which can occur in patients in their 40s and 50s.
  2. Risks: Patients in this age group may be at higher risk for complications during LASIK surgery due to changes in the eye's structure and reduced healing capabilities.

In patients over 60

  1. Benefits: LASIK surgery may not be the best option for patients over 60, other vision correction surgeries, such as cataract surgery, can still provide significant benefits.
  2. Risks: Patients in this age group may have underlying health conditions that increase the risk of complications during surgery and may also have reduced healing capabilities.

It's important to note that the risks and benefits of LASIK surgery may vary depending on each patient's individual circumstances, and it's important to consult with a qualified eye doctor to determine whether LASIK surgery is right for you.

When is LASIK Eye Surgery Not Possible?

Besides the laser eye surgery age limit, you must consider several other factors before getting your eyes operated on. LASIK eye surgery cannot be performed if you are suffering from the following conditions:

  1. Persistent dry eyes.
  2. Changing vision.
  3. Severe myopia or hyperopia.
  4. Autoimmune diseases such as arthritis.
  5. A weakened immune system .
  6. Hormonal changes, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc.
  7. Eye injuries or eye diseases, such as cataracts, glaucomas, amblyopia, etc. 

Before you decide on the final date of your LASIK eye surgery, you must know that it is not advisable if you:

  1. Participate in sports where you can get blows on your face.
  2. Have very large pupils or thin corneas.
  3. Have an eye condition where the corners are thin and bulge.
  4. Already have a good vision.

Takeaway

Your eyes are not only the window to your soul but also your access to this beautiful world. Any eye-related problems are sure to impact and seriously influence your everyday lifestyle. From being unable to read and write to doing things that you love the most, poor eyesight will surely bring several problems. While LASIK eye surgery is an effective method to improve vision, the surgery is not for everyone. The minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18 years, but the ideal age ranges from 41 to 60. 

Are you worried that with the changes in your age, there will be changes in your visions and lifestyle as well? Not necessarily! And even if changes occur, we at Hexahealth are here to help you care for your eyes and all other health-related problems. Our team is committed to making your entire medical journey, big or small, smooth and comfortable, from understanding your problem to connecting you with the best doctors and surgeons.

If you seek services ranging from medical consultation to extensive assistance, HexaHealth is the right choice. Contact our expert team today to learn more about LASIK eye surgery and LASIK surgery age limit. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

One of the most popular forms of refractive eye surgery globally, LASIK eye surgery is known for its efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and security. However, one must know that the minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18 years. Doctors usually do not recommend surgery before this minimum age for LASIK.
Yes, there is a LASIK surgery age limit. Since our eyes are still growing by age 18, getting LASIK eye surgery before that is strictly not advisable. In several cases, the doctor prefers to wait a few more years to ensure the refraction is stable.
The age limit for LASIK eye surgery is 18-40 years. If someone faces any eye-related problem before that, they can look for temporary alternatives such as glasses, contact lenses, etc.

There is no fixed upper limit for LASIK surgery age. The only essential criteria are that there should be no medical complications. You must also know that cataract development after a particular age is inevitable, and laser vision cannot prevent it.

According to doctors and eye experts, the ideal LASIK eye surgery age is from 40 years to 60 years. With the help of LASIK treatment, patients are sure to eliminate many eye-related problems, be it blurriness, an unclear vision of near or far away objects, and more.
Yes! Absolutely! LASIK eye surgery depends not on the patient’s age but on their eye health and visual needs. Unless there are major health issues such as high diabetes, hypertension, or other weak immunity issues, LASIK eye treatment can be highly beneficial in fixing aged eyes.
The immediate recovery period for LASIK eye surgery varies from 6 to 12 hours. There will surely be a significant change in vision after a few hours from the surgery. However, the complete results will only show after a couple of weeks. In many cases, complete recovery takes place within six months.
The human eye continues to grow till at least 18 years of age. Therefore, the minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18. Depending on the eye conditions of the patient, a lot of doctors wait for 2-3 years more before they proceed with the surgery.

LASIK eye surgery is a state-of-the-art invention for curing eye-related problems, but it is unsuitable for many people. These people are those suffering from the following:

  1. Thin corneas
  2. Abnormal corneal maps
  3. Unstable glass power
  4. Advanced Glaucoma
  5. Severe dry eyes
  6. Gross eye muscle abnormality or squint 
  7. High blood pressure, diabetes, or other autoimmune diseases

There are a lot of people who experience a perfect vision all their lives. However, it is still possible that they might develop certain eye-related problems after a certain age. But the good news is that the LASIK surgery age has no upper limit, and people can enjoy its benefits even after 65 years of age.

Since the human eye continues to grow until 18, getting LASIK surgery is advisable only after that age. Therefore, the minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18 years. Unless there is an emergency, the doctors further like to wait for a few more years so as not to disturb the growth of the eye.
The LASIK laser eye surgery age limit is 18 years and above, so it is strictly not recommended for children. The human eye grows till the age of 18. This growth results in constant eye changes, which can make the LASIK surgery unsuccessful.
There is no problem with lifting and bending after the LASIK eye surgery. However, since it is best to avoid any source of water or sweat in the eye, a week of rest and ease of activity is recommended.
Yes! LASIK eye surgery does not come with any maximum age limits. People over 60 can easily get the surgery done and make the most of its benefits. The only condition is that they should not be suffering from any chronic disease such as hypertension, diabetes, or any other autoimmune problems.
In cases where LASIK eye surgery has been performed without considering the minimum age for LASIK eye surgery, the treatment may not be able to obtain the desired results. Even though there has been complete success in many cases, the final result varies from person to person.

The minimum age for LASIK surgery should be considered seriously to ensure that the surgery is successful and that you no longer have to face eye-related issues. If the vision has fluctuations or instability, this one-time procedure might fail.  

Last Updated on: 9 March 2023

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational and learning purposes only. It doesn't cover every medical condition and might not be relevant to your personal situation. This information isn't medical advice, isn't meant for diagnosing any condition, and shouldn't replace talking to a certified medical or healthcare professional.

Reviewer

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES

12 Years Experience

Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More

Author

Shivani Arora

Shivani Arora

BA Journalism and Mass Communication

2 Years Experience

She is an accomplished new-age professional who has interviewed prominent personalities such as Bhaichung Bhutia, G. Sathiyan, Shashi Tharoor, etc. A content writer interested in health communication, graphic desi...View More

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