LASIK surgery is a popular vision correction procedure that can help reduce dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses. While the minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18, there is no age limit as long as your eyes are healthy and your vision is stable. According to the FDA, there is no age limit for LASIK procedures. Each candidate must be at least 18 years old.
Our eyes and prescription requirements may change at this age, so it's important to wait until the trend of change stabilizes before considering laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery can be considered at several developmental milestones, starting in early adulthood. There's only one age requirement to apply for LASIK eye surgery: you must be at least 18 years old. Younger eyes are still developing and aren't yet stable enough to undergo refractive surgery.
While there are no strict age limits for LASIK surgery, alternative procedures may be better suited for mature eyes (over 50 years old). The most important factor to consider is overall eye health, which depends on a variety of factors. The vision correction procedure we recommend will depend on your individual eye anatomy and the visual milestones you have achieved. Most eye doctors consider 60 to be the general age limit for LASIK surgery, as this is when many people begin to develop cataracts.
Having LASIK surgery right now may mean that you won't be able to enjoy better vision for a long time. LASIK eye surgery has an incredible success rate in reducing dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses, but the need for readers is due to the natural aging process of the lens inside the eye. No matter how old you are, you can meet with your eye surgeon to schedule an appointment to determine if you're eligible for LASIK eye treatment. Usually, only one surgery is needed, because LASIK eye surgery causes permanent changes to the cornea.
While you can't control the fact that your eyes age, wearing sunglasses is a vital part of long-term eye health. It's important to remember that LASIK isn't the only option for correcting vision or relieving dependence on glasses. Your doctor can help you decide which procedure is best for you.