Am I eligible for Lasik? Generally, a suitable candidate will be at least 18 years of age, have had a stable vision for the last 12 months, is not pregnant, is free of certain diseases of the cornea and retina and is generally in good health.
The FDA has approved LASIK eye surgery for those 18 years and older, but most providers will encourage patients to wait until their mid-20s after their prescription has stabilized.
Can astigmatism get worse or better? Unfortunately, astigmatism can worsen over time, and it won't get any better after around the age of 25. The natural aging process or other eye conditions can cause the shape of the eye to gradually change, which can intensify astigmatism.
Astigmatism frequently worsens with age. Your cornea can become more irregular due to pressure from your eyelids as they lose muscle tone. Astigmatism generally stays stable until your turn 50. After then, your lens curvature progressively worsens each decade.
While the FDA has not approved LASIK surgery before the age of 18, most ophthalmologists prefer to wait until patients are 21 years old.
Most LASIK eye surgeons, however, will not perform the procedure on those under the age of 18 as vision tends to keep changing into early adulthood.
There are three options to correct astigmatism – glasses, contact lenses or laser eye surgery.
Astigmatism does not always require the use of glasses. A person can have slight astigmatism and still see clearly. Similar to the rest of the body, the eyes change over time, so regular eye checks with your local optometrist are of importance.
What causes astigmatism? Astigmatism happens when your cornea or lens has a different shape than normal. The shape makes light bend differently as it enters your eye, causing a refractive error. Doctors don't know what causes astigmatism, and there's no way to prevent it.
On average, according to an expert quoted by Michigan Health, LASIK surgery costs about $2,200 per eye. When compared to the cost of glasses and sunglasses, or the cost of purchasing and maintaining contact lenses, this price can seem reasonable or even low.
Age 18-40. This is the ideal age group for laser eye surgery. Once your prescription has settled – usually by your early 20s. This quick and pain-free procedure – either LASIK, LASEK or SMILE – can provide decades of excellent vision.
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.
From early childhood to young adults
These vision problems usually stabilize when development is complete at around age 21. It is rare for myopia or hyperopia to continue to progress past age 20.
The answer may be as young as a few months of age. Healthcare providers who specialize in children's eye care say kids usually become nearsighted or farsighted between ages 6 and 12. Farsightedness may be diagnosed even earlier, sometimes in infancy. Even infants can wear glasses if they need help to see well.
At the age of 20, myopia usually levels off. It's also possible for adults to be diagnosed with myopia. When this happens, it's usually due to visual stress or a disease like diabetes or cataracts.
Can astigmatism go away on its own? Astigmatism will not go away on its own. It will either stay the same or get worse with age. While this reality can seem daunting, the good news is that it can be easily corrected.
Most times astigmatism is not a serious eye condition, but causes eye strain and fatigue – impacting school and office performances. However, astigmatism can sometimes hide a sight-threatening eye condition. Astigmatism, like myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), is a common refractive error.
Can an Astigmatism be Outgrown? In some cases, children can outgrow the need for glasses over time. Children who only have a slight astigmatism, and no farsightedness or nearsightedness often outgrow this condition, and may not need corrective lenses at all.
How Is Astigmatism Treated? Most older kids and teens with astigmatism need eyeglasses or contact lenses to help them see clearly. Very young children and kids with mild astigmatism may not need treatment. Sometimes children outgrow astigmatism as they get older.
Astigmatism can usually be corrected with properly prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses. Some children who have mild astigmatism may not require vision correction but may be monitored to ensure the vision is developing appropriately but if the astigmatism is more significant it should be corrected.
The risk of astigmatism increased with both the total years of exposure and the average daily duration of screen exposure.
What are the treatment options for your children? Astigmatism can mostly be corrected by the use of glasses, contacts or refractive surgery. These treatment options are best discussed with your child's ophthalmologist to help you decide which one is best for your child.
How Does Astigmatism Impact Vision? Astigmatism leads to distorted or blurry vision at far and near distances. Light focuses on multiple points instead of just one. At night when looking at lights, they appear to bounce off their primary location.