In general, the average age range for undergoing LASIK surgery is between 20 and 40 years. The FDA has approved LASIK eye surgery for people 18 and older, but most providers recommend that patients wait until their mid-20s after their prescription has stabilized. The Bausch and Lomb Technolas 217 is approved by the FDA for people over 18 years of age and there is no set age for people to obtain it. However, there are a few reasons why patients in their 20s and 30s may consider it a good time to invest in LASIK surgery.
Doctors who specialize in LASIK require that your vision be stabilized before the procedure. They'll review your previous eye exam records to see that your prescription hasn't changed significantly in the past year. Many also recommend waiting for the prescription to stay the same for two years. Your eyes keep changing as you age.
Older patients are more likely to develop cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other vision problems. There is no set age at which a patient will become too old to undergo LASIK surgery, but changes in their health may disqualify them from surgery at some point. LASIK can be successfully performed on patients between the ages of 60 and 70, as long as you are healthy and a good candidate for the procedure. LASIK is a safe, effective and affordable option for permanent vision correction, and the results are instant.
At first, you don't need to correct your vision, but over time you may need reading glasses, a corneal inlay, a LASIK lifestyle procedure, or monovision treatment. Although doctors perform the LASIK procedure on elderly patients, many of these patients opt for monovision. These reasons may make having LASIK surgery before or during your 30s the perfect time to have the procedure. These are just a few of the reasons why anyone in their 20s and 30s who wears eyeglasses or contact lenses should consider LASIK surgery.
So, if your vision deteriorates after LASIK surgery and you don't want to have a touch-up in the future, you may need to wear glasses from then on. LASIK can correct refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, thus freeing the person from the continuous hassle of having to wear eyeglasses and contact lenses. Most people in their 30s haven't yet developed presbyopia, so if they have LASIK surgery, they still have plenty of time before having to use readers. From a social perspective, there are many reasons why age 30 is an ideal time to undergo LASIK surgery.
Although there are exceptions, most doctors recommend having the LASIK procedure between 25 and 40 years of age. Of course, every eye is different and nothing can be guaranteed, but for most patients who undergo LASIK in their 30s, the correction lasts for many years and can be easily improved if small changes occur. LASIK can make it possible for many people, especially those with careers that require intense physical activity, such as military personnel, police officers, firefighters, and construction workers, to work without glasses.
