Are you thinking about getting LASIK? Are you aware of the requirements to qualify for the procedure?
LASIK is one of the safest and most successful procedures. Also, it’s usually considered safer than wearing contact lenses. It sounds crazy, but it’s true! Keep reading to find out if you are mature enough for LASIK!
Are You A Good LASIK Candidate?
One of the most important things to consider is if you are a good candidate for LASIK. The requirements include:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Having healthy eyes
- Having thick enough corneas
- Proper pupil size
- Being free of autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Your prescription is within the approved range
- Stable prescription
- Good general health
- Not pregnant
- Realistic expectations
While these are the minimum requirements, there are always exceptions about why you might not qualify for LASIK. Talk with your doctor to see if you qualify.
Eye Health
As mentioned, you need to have good eye health to qualify for LASIK. To consider getting LASIK, you need to have a stable prescription and healthy eyes.
If you have specific eye conditions and an unstable prescription, you are not a good candidate.
The youngest age you can be to have LASIK is 18 years old as mandated by the FDA. Teens and children don’t usually have stable vision.
It’s risky to perform the procedure and not have the desired outcome. Despite it not being recommended, once in a while, eye surgeons might make an exception.
If a child or teen was at risk of losing their vision and the only way to save it was with LASIK, a doctor might consider it. This would be done only as a last resort.
Although LASIK is FDA approved for adults 18 and older, most surgeons recommend being older. A key component for getting the procedure is making sure your eyes are mature enough.
To get LASIK, your eyes must remain unchanged for at least a year before the procedure. For most people, their vision stabilizes by their mid to late twenties.
When Do Most Adults Have Mature Eyes?
The most common age range for having LASIK is between 20 and 40 years old. During this age range, adults usually have stable vision and healthy eyes.
After age 40, your eyes start changing again. Your vision will begin worsening. Eye conditions can also develop and you have an increased chance of developing presbyopia. LASIK cannot fix presbyopia.
Adults 60 and older have a higher chance of developing cataracts. But it is possible for a 70 or 80-year-old with stable vision and healthy eyes to get LASIK eye surgery.
Some doctors even think that older adults are better candidates than adults between 20 and 40.
Depending on your eye health and age is how your doctor determines your eyes are mature enough for LASIK.
Do you think you’re a good candidate for LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Omaha Eye & Laser Institute in Lincoln, NE! Why wait any longer if you want to experience a world of visual freedom for the first time in your life?
