Does Age Effect Lasik? Learn More At Boothe Eye Care

The LASIK eye procedure is not recommended for everyone who suffers from refractive errors. To undergo the LASIK procedure, the candidate must fulfill certain eligibility criteria. One of the most important criteria is the age of the patient. The candidate should reach the minimum age limit recommended by the FDA to undergo the procedure. The FDA has introduced certain strict rules and regulations associated with this type of vision therapy. FDA has approved LASIK for people who are 18 years of age or older, and who have a stable eye prescription. The ideal age for the LASIK procedure is 21 years.

The FDA recommends that the patient be 18 years or older because the eyes change more often until this age. Some patients experience refractive error changes even after the age of 21, making them ineligible for LASIK eye procedure. Children’s eyes change and adjust their shape more frequently, so LASIK surgery would only provide temporary vision improvement in children. If a child has undergone LASIK surgery, then it would need to be repeated after some years to correct his/her vision again. Some studies show that the aggressive healing condition in children can affect the quality of vision and corneal haze. Again, a teenager whose eyes are not fully developed will not receive satisfactory results, as the results will be temporary, and the teenager will likely require LASIK enhancement surgery in future.

Dr. Boothe recommends that the patient’s refractive prescription be stable for a minimum of two years before performing LASIK surgery. The patient should also understand that after the age of 40, certain conditions like presbyopia cannot be treated using LASIK eye procedure. The natural lens of the eye will not be as flexible as it was previously in presbyopic patients. Hence, changing the focus of the eyes is difficult using LASIK eye procedure in presbyopic patients.

The focusing muscles cannot be corrected using LASIK procedure; however, LASIK can correct farsightedness and nearsightedness. As such, presbyopic patients can undergo monovision treatment. In monovision treatment, the surgeon will correct one of the eyes for nearsightedness and the other eye for farsightedness. Over a period of time, the brain will adjust to this change and vision will be improved. For further improved vision, people who have undergone monovision treatment should consider wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses. IOL implants are another option for the patients who are not ideal candidates for monovision treatment or LASIK surgery.

LASIK surgery cannot treat age-related eye problems in elderly patients. For example, cataracts cannot be treated using LASIK. Cataracts can be treated only by removing the natural lens and replacing it with an IOL. To know whether you are an ideal candidate for LASIK procedure, you will need to discuss your treatment options with Dr. William Boothe. Dr. Boothe of Boothe Eye Care will evaluate your overall physical and eye health, and then decide whether LASIK surgery is a viable option for you. If you are not a candidate for the LASIK procedure, Dr. Boothe will advise an alternative treatment.