Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in LASIK on February 18, 2026
Are you exploring vision correction options and wondering which procedure is right for you? If you’re comparing LASIK and refractive lens exchange (RLE), your age is a significant factor in choosing the best option.
Both procedures can dramatically improve your vision, but they work differently and suit different stages of life. Keep reading to learn how LASIK vs RLE age considerations influence which option might be ideal for your vision goals.
How Aging Affects Your Eyes
Your eyes change naturally as you age, and these changes affect which vision correction procedure will give you the best results. Before age 40, most people have flexible natural lenses that can still focus on objects at different distances.
After 40, a condition called presbyopia typically begins. This age-related change makes it harder to see things up close, which is why many people start needing reading glasses around this time.
LASIK reshapes your cornea to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. RLE replaces your eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to correct vision.
The key difference is that LASIK works best when your lens is still flexible, while RLE addresses the lens changes that come with aging. This fundamental distinction makes age the most critical factor in choosing between these two procedures.
LASIK: Best for Younger Adults
LASIK has helped millions of people achieve clear vision without glasses or contacts. The procedure uses a laser to reshape your cornea, changing how light enters your eye and focuses on your retina. For people under 40, LASIK offers excellent results because their eyes still have natural focusing ability.
When you’re younger, your lens remains flexible enough to adjust between near and far vision after LASIK corrects your distance vision. About 99% of LASIK patients achieve 20/40 or better vision, and more than 90% achieve 20/20 vision. The procedure is quick (usually 30 minutes or less), and most people notice clearer vision within 24 hours.
However, LASIK has an important age limitation. Even if the procedure gives you perfect distance vision at age 35, you’ll still likely develop presbyopia after 40.
This means you might eventually need reading glasses for close-up tasks, even though your distance vision remains clear. LASIK doesn’t prevent the natural aging process of your lens, and it also doesn’t prevent other common age-related conditions like cataracts.
RLE: The Better Choice After 40
Refractive lens exchange becomes the preferred option once presbyopia begins, typically after age 40. During RLE, your eye surgeon removes your natural lens and replaces it with an IOL that corrects your vision. This approach addresses both your current refractive errors and the age-related changes already affecting your eyes.
RLE offers unique advantages for patients over 40. Because the procedure replaces your aging lens, you won’t develop cataracts later in life (cataracts only form on natural lenses).
Many patients choose multifocal IOLs that provide clear vision at multiple distances, reducing or eliminating the need for reading glasses. While RLE can cause visual side effects, such as halos around lights, these typically lessen over time.
The surgery is generally best suited for people over 40 because younger patients face a higher risk of complications, particularly retinal detachment. As you age past 40, these risks decrease, making RLE a safer and more appropriate choice. Most RLE patients are satisfied with their vision after surgery and don’t need glasses at all.
Making the Right Choice for Your Age
The decision between LASIK and RLE often comes down to whether you’ve reached that 40-year milestone. If you’re younger and haven’t developed presbyopia, LASIK typically provides excellent vision correction with quick recovery.
If you’re over 40 and already struggling with reading glasses, RLE can address both your distance and near vision challenges in a single procedure. Your individual eye health, lifestyle, and vision goals all matter too.
Some people in their 40s may still be good candidates for LASIK if presbyopia hasn’t significantly affected them yet. Others with severe refractive errors might benefit from RLE even if they’re on the younger end of the age spectrum.
Ready to find out whether LASIK or RLE is right for you? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!
