What Is The Maximum Age for LASIK Surgery?

What Is The Maximum Age for LASIK Surgery? Think you’re too old for LASIK? While one can be too young for LASIK (patients must be at least 18 years of age), you can never be too old for the procedure, provided your eyes are healthy. Dr. Manger has performed LASIK on patients in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s who wanted to be free of glasses and contact lenses.

Recent research suggest there is no difference in LASIK outcomes for patients in their 20s, 40s, and beyond. In fact, the Journal of Ophthalmology reported in 2008 that LASIK helped correct many people in their 40s to 60s with presbyopia – a natural aging process of the eyes that creates an inability to focus on near objects.

In order to determine your candidacy for the LASIK procedure, it’s important to have your eyes thoroughly examined by a LASIK expert. Your eyes need to be free of diseases such as cataracts, keratoconus (thinning of the cornea) or macular degeneration. Generally, 80% of patients seen by Dr. Manger are good candidates for the LASIK procedure, but he does routinely turn away approximately 20% of patients due to various health factors of their eyes. If we determine you are not a good candidate for LASIK, we will advise you of any alternate treatment you may be able to consider and provide a referral, if possible.

Many people in their 40s, 50s, and beyond are pleased to find they can benefit from LASIK, whether they wear over-the-counter reading glasses, progressive lenses, bifocals, or even trifocals. Most of these patients are good candidates for “blended-monovision” LASIK, which gives them the ability to see both distance and up-close without glasses for most, if not all, activities. Additionally, many people in this age range find their distance vision is not as good as it used to be. They start to notice it’s more difficult to see street signs, particularly when driving at night or in unfamiliar areas. Most of these patients have been largely independent of glasses for most of their lives and LASIK is a great alternative for them.

What Is The Maximum Age for LASIK Surgery? Considering LASIK at a later age? Schedule your free VIP LASIK exam with Dr. Manger today to find out if you’re a good candidate.