How Old Do You Have to Be to Get LASIK?

Many people who wear corrective lenses have worn them from a young age. Many of them look forward to having laser eye surgery when they are old enough. Fortunately, LASIK is appropriate for most healthy adults and can provide significant vision improvements. Many people can finally enjoy life without the need for their glasses or contacts. 

What is LASIK Laser Eye Surgery?

LASIK, a form of laser eye surgery, corrects your vision by reshaping the clear structure at the front of your eye called the cornea. This reshaping process corrects refractive errors, including astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. LASIK is a fast, painless treatment that has been used safely on millions of people. Your Heart of Texas Eye Care eye surgeons have extensive experience performing this procedure. 

How Does LASIK Work?

Your eye surgeon numbs your eyes and gives you medication to relax you, making LASIK a comfortable experience. Each eye takes a few minutes at most. Your eye surgeon uses a laser to create a round flap on the surface of your cornea and lifts it out of the way. They use another laser to reshape the cornea using microscopic layers to achieve the required shape. The flap is moved back into place, and the edges will almost immediately begin to reattach. 

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get LASIK?

Many factors affect whether LASIK is the right type of laser eye surgery for you. One of the most important is your age, but many others play a role.  All candidates should be in overall good health, especially their eyes. 

Age

Candidates for LASIK and all other types of laser eye surgery must be 18 or older. You may want to have the procedure sooner, but the age requirement is for your safety and to ensure your best results. Your Heart of Texas Eye Care team looks forward to helping you with laser eye surgery when you are old enough. 

Corneal Health

Because LASIK cuts a flap in the outer layer of the cornea, it is not recommended for people whose corneas are thin, abnormal, or unhealthy. If you have any of these issues, your eye surgeon may recommend a different procedure, such as SMILE or PRK. 

Dry Eye

The LASIK flap can potentially worsen dry eye symptoms. People with dry eyes may be better candidates for another procedure, such as SMILE. Your ophthalmologist will work to determine the cause of your dry eye and recommend treatment options. 

Prescription

Candidates for LASIK should have a stable prescription. LASIK treats prescriptions within a certain range: +6 diopters for farsightedness, -12 diopters for nearsightedness, and 6 diopters for astigmatism. You may not be a good candidate if your prescription falls outside these ranges.  

Cataracts

Your eye surgeon will check your eyes for any signs of cataracts. If you have begun to form cataracts, you may be a better candidate for refractive lens exchange (RLE), which simultaneously treats cataracts and corrects your vision. 

Take the Next Step

If you’d like to learn more about LASIK, schedule a consultation with our Heart of Texas Eye Care team, serving Dripping Springs, Austin, Kyle, Bee Cave, Marble Falls, and other surrounding areas. Contact us at (512) 213-2220 today!

*Individual results may vary