LASIK corrects refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by permanently reshaping the cornea. This outpatient surgery offers many adults the freedom from glasses and contact lenses. For a typical 12-year-old seeking general vision correction, the answer is generally no. This restriction is due to the ongoing biological development of a young person’s eyes, which impacts the procedure’s long-term success.
Why Eye Maturity is Critical for LASIK Eligibility
The effectiveness of LASIK relies on the eye’s refractive error remaining stable following the surgery. For children and young teenagers, the physical structure of the eye is still undergoing growth and change. The eyeball often continues to elongate during adolescence, which changes the eye’s focal point and leads to progressive nearsightedness (myopia). This elongation means the refractive error, or prescription, is not stable. Performing a permanent surgical correction on an unstable eye means the vision change would only be temporary, as the prescription would likely continue to worsen, necessitating the use of glasses or contacts again.
Standard Minimum Age Guidelines for Refractive Surgery
Clinical practice and regulatory bodies have established age requirements to ensure the long-term safety and success of elective laser procedures. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LASIK for individuals who are 18 years of age or older. This minimum age is based on the necessity for ocular maturity and prescription stability. Even at age 18, many ophthalmologists require evidence of a stable prescription for 12 to 24 months before considering the surgery. Since most young teenagers, including 12-year-olds, are still experiencing active changes in their vision, they do not meet this requirement for elective laser refractive surgery.
Vision Correction Options for Pre-Teens
Since LASIK is not an option for a 12-year-old, the focus shifts to non-surgical methods for vision correction. Standard eyeglasses remain a safe, effective solution for correcting refractive errors in pre-teens, offering clear vision and easy updates as the prescription changes. Contact lenses are another practical alternative, and many 12-year-olds can safely wear them with proper hygiene and parental oversight.
Beyond standard correction, advanced non-surgical options exist to manage the progression of nearsightedness. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) uses custom-designed, rigid contact lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea. The lenses are removed in the morning, allowing the patient to see clearly during the day without glasses or contacts. Ortho-K is commonly used for myopia control, as studies suggest it may help slow the rate at which nearsightedness worsens. Other options include specialized soft contact lenses or low-dose atropine eye drops, both designed to slow the elongation of the eye.
Therapeutic Use Cases for Pediatric Laser Surgery
While elective LASIK is prohibited, there are rare, medically necessary exceptions where laser procedures are performed on children. These cases prevent severe, permanent vision loss rather than providing standard vision correction. The procedures used are often Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) or LASEK, which are slight variations of laser surgery.
This therapeutic use is reserved for children with severe anisometropia—a significant difference in prescription between the two eyes. If this difference cannot be corrected effectively with glasses or contacts, it can lead to amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye. Laser surgery, in this context, is a last resort to reduce the refractive error imbalance, stabilize the image, and allow the brain to develop equal vision in both eyes. This type of pediatric laser surgery is performed under the guidance of a pediatric ophthalmologist and is considered a medical necessity, not a lifestyle choice.