There is no age cut-off when it comes to having LASIK surgery. As long as you meet the criteria for eligibility, the procedure is safe. Even those over 40 or 50 years old can benefit from the procedure, which is an investment that is worth it compared to wearing glasses or contacts for the rest of their lives.
But there are plenty of people in their 40's, 50's, 60's and beyond who have relatively healthy eyes and therefore may still be perfectly good candidates for LASIK. So the idea that there is an upper-age limit for treatment is simply false. You're never too old for LASIK if your eyes are healthy enough.
Many people who would be great candidates for laser eye surgery have the misconception that they are too old. When in fact most would be suitable to have vision correction surgery, such as LASIK or SMILE, to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses or contacts. They are usually people over the age of 40 or “boomers”.
This sometimes occurs with age-related changes but can be corrected. Most people still see the effects of their LASIK forever. However, some may need to have enhancement LASIK surgery after 10 years. The reason for this can vary depending on the age when getting LASIK and vision health.
It is usually best suited to someone in his early 40s, because at that age the brain is more flexible. It works especially well in patients who have been doing monovision with their contact lenses because they have already adjusted to that way of seeing.
With modern LASIK, the enhancement rate is 1-2 percent in the first 12 months and then about 1 percent a year after that as patients' eyes can change with time. So, for example, 10 years after LASIK, approximately 10 percent of patients may require an enhancement procedure to maintain their excellent vision.
The best results of LASIK surgery will be achieved when patients' eyes are stable and when their eye prescription has not changed within at least the past two years. Special considerations must be taken in patients over 40 because this is a time in which the eyes are likely to begin to change once again.
You are never too old to have vision correction surgery
Many patients choose to have treatment to free them up for travel or outdoor exercise once they retire. The treatment which is most suitable for your eyes is best determined by the right tests and an expert opinion from your operating surgeon.
You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
At Providence Eye & Laser Specialists, some patients ask, “Should I get LASIK eye surgery after 40?” The simple answer is yes. However, these are your eyes, and there is nothing simple about them or their care. As a LASIK surgeons and fellowship-trained cornea specialists, Dr.
While there is currently no age limit for older adults wanting LASIK surgery, there are some vision conditions affecting adults age 40 and above that can't be treated with this surgery. These conditions are: Presbyopia or blurry near vision typically occurring around age 40. Cataracts or glaucoma.
A normal LASIK patient takes around three months to complete this recovery time. Some patients can take upwards of six months to a year to fully recover. This is particularly true if they had a severe prescription. This isn't to say that you'll be stuck in bed for months after LASIK, because you won't!
Long-term complications from LASIK are very rare, but some side effects can persist for several months. In very rare instances, a side effect or complication may become permanent.
What is the LASIK complication rate? The LASIK complication rate is only about 0.3%. The most commonly reported LASIK complications are infection or dry eye that persists for more than six months.
The condition is common to develop over the age of 40. So if you are having a problem with presbyopia, you have the option for laser surgery and can be a good candidate for LASIK.
If you're over 50, but have little to no signs of cataracts developing, you may be a candidate for LASIK. In fact, corneas strengthen with time, so in some ways, patients in their 50s are at less risk than patients in their teens and 20s!
The good news is that no one is too mature for laser vision correction. You may be able to schedule LASIK after 50 years old. You should know that not everyone is a candidate for LASIK. So, what common problems can LASIK fix?
Yes, you can develop astigmatism as you get older. A study showed that 1 in 4 people between 25 and 59 years old had astigmatism. But in people over the age of 60, that number doubles to 1 in 2 people. This happens because the shape of the cornea and lens can change as you age.
Many people believe that after LASIK surgery, they will finally have 20/20 vision. However, this isn't always the case. In fact, some patients may still need to wear glasses or contact lenses for tasks like reading small print or driving at night.
As we mentioned above, the laser makes permanent changes to the shape of the cornea. This cannot be reversed; however, sometimes vision can continue to change as a person ages. In this case, you may notice changes to your vision over the years even if you've undergone Lasik surgery.
If you develop blurry vision 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years after surgery, your eyes have likely changed with age. Visit your doctor for a comprehensive eye exam to rule out issues like glaucoma and cataracts. If your eyes are healthy, you may have age-related nearsightedness LASIK can't prevent or treat.
PISK is an inflammatory reaction caused by the instruments used during the procedure that can erode the corneal stroma. This condition can occur within days or sometimes even years after the surgery. Symptoms of PISK include severe eye pain, blurry vision, redness, and sensitivity to light.
In general, most people who have laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery achieve 20/20 vision or better, which works well for most activities. But most people still eventually need glasses for driving at night or reading as they get older.
Can Laser Eye Surgery Go Wrong? The chances of experiencing complications from laser eye surgery, including various minor ones, has been documented to be less than one per cent. Most laser eye surgery complications actually arise when the patients treated are not good candidates for the procedure.
When you rub your eyes, you risk moving the flap out of business, delaying your recovery. So it's advisable not to rub your eyes after LASIK surgery to prevent complications. If you need a cosmetic reason not to do it, rubbing your eyes can develop Under Eye dark circles.