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!
While the minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18 years old, there is technically no age limit for laser vision correction. Candidacy for LASIK surgery is typically not dependent upon age, but upon the stability and health of the eye.
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.
Generally speaking, you can never be too old for LASIK. To be a suitable candidate, you must have good general health, a stable prescription, the correct corneal anatomy, and of course, be over 18. As such, patients are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to see if they meet these requirements.
LASIK For Patients 60 and Older
Seniors can typically have LASIK eye surgery without any restrictions. However, many factors must be considered before a senior adult can be approved. An eye condition that most commonly affects seniors is cataracts. This is why someone in this age bracket should be disqualified.
There is no upper limit preventing seniors from having LASIK eye surgery, but many factors must be taken into consideration before a senior adult is approved as a candidate. Cataracts, an eye condition most often affecting seniors, is one of the reasons for someone in this age group to be considered ineligible.
With advancements in technology, laser surgery has become a frequently-used option for those above the age 40 and can help you see clearly again.
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!
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. You actively participate in contact sports.
You can get LASIK more than once. But undergoing more than three LASIK procedures can be harmful to your health and cause severe vision problems. Each time you undergo LASIK, the surgeon removes corneal tissue. If your corneas are too thin after the first procedure, you may not be able to have a second LASIK surgery.
Is LASIK Eye Surgery Painful? Fortunately, LASIK eye surgery is not painful. Right before your procedure, your surgeon will place numbing eye drops into both of your eyes. While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain.
Can I get LASIK for reading vision correction? Patients sometimes ask if LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) can eliminate reading glasses from their lives. Yes, it can! If you're tired of depending on readers, contact lenses, or eyeglasses, refractive surgery options are available for near-vision correction.
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.
Is it possible to have LASIK surgery twice? The short answer is yes, though this is usually only done 5 – 10 years after the initial treatment. However, rest assured that LASIK offers long-term vision correction, and very few people require a second session.
The ultra-precise lasers used for LASIK surgery can be programmed to reshape the cornea so the front surface of the eye is more symmetrical, thereby eliminating vision problems caused by astigmatism. Most of the time astigmatism can be fully corrected with a single LASIK procedure.
Those who are not in good general health.
A dry eye may not heal well and has a higher risk of post-surgery infection. Other conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma or cataracts often affect results.
No. It is important to understand that after LASIK or any lens implant surgery you still have (and will always have) a "nearsighted" eyeball, i.e. an eye that is "too big" in diameter. [This is typically the cause of the nearsightedness itself.]
It is important to know that if you have dry eyes, LASIK surgery may make the condition worse. Large pupils. If your pupils are large, especially in dim light, LASIK may not be appropriate. Surgery may result in debilitating symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts and ghost images.
Myth: A common concern about Lasik surgery is that the corneal flap will never heal. To break it down quite simply… give it some time. In the early days after Lasik, wounds should be handled with great care because that's when the eye is most vulnerable and susceptible to trauma.
The changes achieved through Laser Eye Surgery are permanent and can often lead to better visual acuity than other options. Furthermore, patients are able to get back to sports and other activities shortly after their procedure.
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. LASIK after 40 can provide improved vision for a long time after the initial surgery, although it is important to have realistic expectations.
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.
Can Lasik Correct Both Nearsightedness and Farsightedness at the Same Time? Is it possible to correct both myopia and presbyopia at the same time? Yes, laser eye surgery is an effective option to correct problems such as short-sightedness, astigmatism, and long-sightedness.