LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a refractive procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct vision imperfections such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Eligibility requires a comprehensive evaluation of eye health, not just a person’s age. While there is a mandated minimum age, there is no strict upper age limit that automatically disqualifies a candidate. For older adults, eligibility focuses on age-related eye conditions that could compromise the procedure’s safety or long-term effectiveness.
Why Minimum Age is Required
The minimum age for undergoing LASIK is set at 18 years old, driven by the necessity for a stable vision prescription. Throughout adolescence and into the early twenties, the human eye is still undergoing physical development, often leading to fluctuations in refractive error. For a successful and lasting LASIK outcome, the patient’s prescription must have remained unchanged for 12 to 24 months before the surgery is performed.
Performing LASIK on an eye with an unstable prescription risks regression, where the initial visual correction is lost as the eye continues to change. This would necessitate follow-up procedures or result in the patient returning to glasses or contacts soon after the surgery. Hormonal changes contribute to this refractive instability. The age requirement ensures the eye has reached ocular maturity and the prescription has stabilized, maximizing the long-term benefit of the procedure.
Age-Related Changes Affecting Eligibility in Older Adults
There is no maximum age for LASIK, but as people age, they become more susceptible to conditions that can complicate or contraindicate the surgery. These age-related changes often become the decisive factor in determining candidacy beyond the age of 40 or 50. The development of presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, is a common concern that begins affecting near vision, typically in a person’s 40s. LASIK corrects the shape of the cornea for distance vision but does not prevent this natural hardening of the eye’s lens, meaning reading glasses may still be required post-surgery.
Some surgeons may offer Monovision, where the dominant eye is corrected for distance and the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision, but this involves a trade-off in visual clarity. The natural progression of cataracts also becomes a consideration, as the risk of developing these cloudy changes to the eye’s natural lens increases significantly with age. If cataracts are already forming, an ophthalmologist may recommend against LASIK because eventual cataract surgery would be necessary to restore vision, making the LASIK procedure redundant. Dry eye syndrome often worsens with age, particularly in post-menopausal women, and can severely impact the eye’s ability to heal and the patient’s comfort following the procedure.
Essential Non-Age Related Eligibility Criteria
While age is a factor, many non-age related physical and medical criteria must be met to ensure the surgery is safe and effective. The cornea’s physical characteristics are paramount, requiring adequate thickness and a normal shape to safely accommodate the tissue removal necessary for correction. Removing too much tissue from a thin or irregularly shaped cornea can compromise the eye’s structural integrity, leading to serious complications.
A patient’s overall health status is thoroughly reviewed, as certain systemic diseases can impair the body’s healing response. Uncontrolled diabetes, for instance, can slow healing and increase the risk of infection, making it a contraindication. Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can interfere with post-operative healing and are often grounds for disqualification. The eye must also be free of active infections, severe glaucoma, or other advanced eye diseases that could be exacerbated by the procedure.