Can I Undergo LASIK after 40?
LASIK surgery reshapes the cornea to address a number of refractive errors. Our patients are often eager to find out if this procedure is right for them. Many individuals who consider LASIK treatment are over the age of 40, so it is common for our ophthalmologists at Deen-Gross Eye Centers to be asked if a person is considered a candidate for LASIK after 40.
There are several key factors that go into determining LASIK candidacy, and age is one of them. However, many of our Merrillville, IN and Hobart, IN patients who are aged 40 or older can benefit from the vision improving results of LASIK, provided certain considerations are made.
Are There LASIK Age Restrictions?
Age is a consideration when determining whether LASIK is a suitable treatment for individuals with vision impairment. However, the LASIK age requirement pertains to an age minimum, not a maximum.
LASIK surgery should not be performed on individuals under the age of 21. Up until that age, the eye can continue to grow and change. It is important that the eyes are fully mature, and that the patient’s vision prescription has remained steady for at least one year. This is to prevent the need for additional treatment in the future, should the eyes change. Once a person reaches the age of 21, there is no set upper limit for when LASIK can no longer be performed.
Can I Have Successful LASIK after 40?
While there is no upper age limit for LASIK, we only recommend treatment if we believe it will be a success. LASIK can successfully treat vision impairment caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. LASIK is not effective at treating presbyopia, which is a loss of close-up vision that is common among individuals over the age of 40.
When our patients are considering LASIK after 40 we need to ensure that vision impairment is not the result of presbyopia. Provided that we are treating a common refractive error, LASIK can be a success for patients aged 40 and beyond.
Considerations for Patients Over the Age of 40
Even if a patient over the age of 40 is suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, there are special considerations that need to be taken into account before committing to LASIK treatment.
Just as the eyes change until they reach a state of maturity, they often begin to change again after the age of 40. As the eyes age, the flexibility of the lens can become compromised, which is what causes presbyopia. Our Merrillville patients should be aware that, even if they undergo LASIK, they may still develop presbyopia over time, which means they will need to rely on reading glasses to perform certain tasks.
One technique that is common among LASIK patients over the age of 40 is monovision. This technique allows us to treat one eye for nearsightedness and the other for farsightedness, so that one eye can focus on objects at a distance, and the other can see close-up details. Over time, the brain adjusts so that patients can enjoy clearer vision at any distance. Patients who undergo monovision LASIK often rely less on reading glasses, as they should only need them if they will be spending extended hours reading or working on a computer.
Learn More
If you are considering LASIK at any age, the best way to find out if you are a candidate is by undergoing a personal consultation. To schedule an appointment with the eye doctors at Deen-Gross Eye Centers, call (219) 769-8989, or send us a message at your earliest convenience.
