What’s The Best Age For LASIK?

Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in LASIK on May 29, 2019

Lady in white shirt looking into camera.

Do you think you are too old or too young for LASIK? Have you had stable vision for at least a year? 

It sounds like you may be ready to breakup with your glasses and contacts! LASIK eye surgery might be an option for you. 

While there are many age requirements for milestones in life, there is no “best age” for LASIK. Keep reading to learn more about LASIK and if you’re at an age to get it! 

How old do I have to be to get LASIK?

To get LASIK, you must be at least 18 years old. What many people don’t realize is you may want to wait to get LASIK until your twenties. Why? 

There’s no guarantee that your eyes will have stopped changing by the time you’re 18. For this reason, most eye doctors recommend waiting to have LASIK in your mid-twenties.    

For a patient to be a good LASIK candidate, they need to have a stable prescription for at least a year before LASIK. The most common time for individuals to get LASIK is between the ages of 20 and 40.  

Can I get LASIK in my forties?

Starting around age 40, your eyes start changing again. It is around this time that people may need reading glasses. 

This happens because of a condition called presbyopia. LASIK can’t fix presbyopia, since LASIK only reshapes the cornea. Presbyopia occurs because your lens loses flexibility with age. 

If you want LASIK and have presbyopia, your eye doctor may recommend monovision. Monovision fixes one eye for near vision and the other for far vision.

Finally, as we start to reach age 60, our vision starts to change again. Additionally, at this age range, you are at a higher risk for developing cataracts. 

It is possible that for certain adults that are 70 to 80 years old with healthy eyes and no cataracts to get LASIK. If you have cataracts that affect your vision, you won’t be able to get LASIK. Instead, you can consider premium IOLs that correct your vision with cataract surgery. 

What other factors make you a LASIK candidate?

Age is a factor to consider when finding out if you’re a LASIK candidate, but it won’t make you less of a candidate.  If you are in good health with a stable prescription, these are some basic factors of LASIK candidacy. 

Being in good health is important, but it’s only one aspect of the candidacy process. Tell your eye doctor your full medical history during your LASIK consultation.

Other factors of LASIK candidacy include:

  • not having conditions like diabetes that aren’t managed
  • not being pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
  • not having any eye injuries
  • having thick enough corneas
  • not having any autoimmune disorders that make it harder to heal from a procedure like LASIK

If you are interested in LASIK, you owe it to yourself to have a LASIK consultation. It’s the only way to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK or not.

Ready to find out? Schedule a LASIK consultation at EyeHealth Northwest in Milwaukie, OR today!


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Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Suite 245
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
North Portland
3246 N. Lombard St.
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-1671 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Westside Surgery Center
13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more
EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center
12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more

Our Locations

Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Suite 245
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
North Portland
3246 N. Lombard St.
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-1671 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Surgery Centers

Westside Surgery Center

13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more

EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center

12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more