At what age is LASIK not recommended?
Asked by: Dr. Claudine Thompson | Last update: July 13, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (32 votes)
At what age is it too late for LASIK?
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.
What disqualifies you from LASIK?
- You required a change in your contact lens or glasses prescription in the past year. This is called refractive instability. ...
- You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. ...
- You actively participate in contact sports. ...
- You are not an adult.
Is it worth getting LASIK after 50?
Many patients over the age of 50 have LASIK surgery with excellent results! However, LASIK will not prevent presbyopia, and will create the need for reading glasses post operatively. Patients that are nearsighted (see well up close without glasses) tend to be most impacted by this.
Is 70 too old for laser eye surgery?
You are never too old to have vision correction surgery
This level of continuity helps to ensure the right decisions are made at every stage and you get the best results from your treatment.
Should I Get LASIK? | 5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself *BEFORE* LASIK
What is the best eye surgery for older adults?
For patients older than 40 years and for those with severe refractive error or abnormal corneas, RLE may be a more viable option. Especially for patients with presbyopia or hyperopia, RLE with an advanced technology IOL may be the preferred approach to surgical refractive correction.
What prescription is too high for LASIK?
So what prescription is too high for LASIK? Many eye doctors will set their limits to +6 for farsightedness, -12 for nearsightedness, and 6 diopters for astigmatism. But there are other factors that can make some patients good for LASIK while others are disqualified from the procedure.
How many years does LASIK last?
While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits can decrease over time. For most patients, the results of this surgery will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.
How much is LASIK with insurance?
The average cost of Lasik eye surgery is $2,632 per eye. When paying full price, rates typically range from $1,000 to $3,000 per eye. A discount from your health insurance company can often save you about $715 per eye, and a vision insurance discount averages a savings of $948 per eye.
Who should not have laser eye surgery?
Patients with autoimmune diseases are not good candidates for laser eye surgery. Many autoimmune conditions cause dry eye syndrome. 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.
Why do doctors not recommend LASIK?
Unresolved Vision Problems
Other eye diseases that affect the cornea or infections must be resolved before you can get LASIK. In some cases, you may find that because of eye diseases or another procedure, you cannot get LASIK. If this occurs, you may be a better candidate for a procedure like PRK.
Is there a better alternative to LASIK?
Refractive lens exchange
RLE is a good alternative for patients with severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia or astigmatism, or if the surgeon believes laser surgery is not the best option. In both younger and older patients, RLE has a high success rate.
Is LASIK painful?
LASIK eye surgery offers a nearly pain-free experience for most individuals, thanks to anesthetic eye drops, advanced laser technology, and minimally invasive techniques.
When is the best time to get LASIK eye surgery?
LASIK: 25-40
Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized.
Does Medicare cover LASIK?
Medicare covers various types of surgery. However, the surgery in question must be a medical necessity. Medicare considers LASIK to be elective surgery, just like most other health insurance plans, so it does not cover LASIK. Note: Learn more about Medicare and coverage for surgeries as this resource.
Is monovision LASIK a good idea?
Monovision LASIK can help you achieve clear near and distance vision. Other benefits of the procedure include great results and affordability. The procedure is quick, and there is very little pain or discomfort.
How to get free LASIK?
Many disreputable operations will advertise free LASIK, and it's essentially a scam. As the saying goes, nothing in life is free. For your vision's safety, it is better to find methods like flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), or other health insurance benefits to reduce the cost.
How long does LASIK take to heal?
Within a few hours, your vision will become a lot clearer and you can usually drive after just 24-hours. Of course, it takes a bit longer for the eye to fully heal following surgery, usually 6 months. And all during this time, you should expect your vision to continue to improve.
Why doesn't insurance cover LASIK?
Because LASIK is an elective surgery, more often than not it is not covered by insurance. However, some non-standard vision insurance plans, such as VSP or EyeMed, may offer benefits or discounts. Some of these benefits might include additional services and savings for people who are interested in LASIK.
At what age is LASIK not worth it?
How Old is Too Old for LASIK? Surgeons at The Eye Institute of Utah have performed LASIK on patients in their 50's and beyond. While there is no cutoff age for LASIK candidacy, there are several reasons why the average age of LASIK patients tops out around 45: The risk of developing cataracts increases as we age.
Why is my vision blurry 5 years after LASIK?
There are times that blurry vision a few years after LASIK is absolute because the treatment has “worn off.” In those cases, the epithelium (that covers the surface of the eye) increases in thickness where the laser treated the cornea.
Are you awake during LASIK?
Short Answer: Yes. The vast majority of patients are awake during LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgeries. General anaesthesia, which induces sleep, is not used in these procedures. Instead, patients are typically given numbing eye drops and may be offered a mild sedative to help them remain calm.
Will LASIK give me 20/20 vision?
LASIK is a type of refractive eye surgery. In general, most people who have laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery achieve 20/20 vision or better, which works well for most activities. But most people still eventually need glasses for driving at night or reading as they get older.
How bad can your eyes be to get laser eye surgery?
For short-sightedness (myopia) the safe limit is usually around -8 to -10 dioptres. For hypermetropia, the safe limit is usually around +4 to +6 dioptres. Your surgeon will assess you and tell you whether your eye prescription falls within the safe treatment range for you.
Who is a bad candidate for LASIK?
You Have Certain Diseases. Autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and immunodeficiency conditions, like HIV or diabetes, can prevent proper healing after refractive procedures.