Learn About Age For Laser Eye Corrective Surgery? -411
I’m 19 and I’m looking into corrective surgery for my eyesite, which is terrible.
A friend of mine who is a baseball player got his eyes corrected when he was 18 years old, and the doctors approved him without any argument.
My dad suggests I hold off getting it for a few years because I’m young. Does it REALLY make a difference? I mean, your eyes change your entire life, despite age. My parents have had tons of different prescriptions. So will it really make ANY difference if I get it at 19 or 21?
I have a good reason for needing it, as well, so would that make me more likely to be a candidate?
Tags: Corrective, Laser, surgery
December 31st, 2011 at 11:15 am
It’s a pretty well-established fact that most people experience a decline in the quality of their vision when they hit their forties. And, with a very large population of baby boomers now in their forties and above, the demand for corrective eye surgery to help improve these common vision problems has been on the rise. But many senior citizens question if it is worth it to have Lasik eye surgery in their later years.
The answer, according to experienced ophthalmologists and laser eye surgeons, is that people are eligible for it at just about any stage of life. Those experiencing problems with their eyesight can enjoy improvement with correction laser vision surgery. The main vision problems that can be improved with corrective eye surgery are astigmatism, far-sightedness and near-sightedness.
Lasik eye surgery in virtually any stage of life is considered a very low risk procedure, overall. But, there are a few precautions that doctors recommend to those who are a bit older. One common condition that the elderly deal with is eye dryness and therefore, after Lasik eye surgery, the elderly are strongly encouraged to take extra care to be sure to keep the eyes well-hydrated and lubricated with eye drops.
Lubrication of the eyes after Lasik eye surgery is not only important for those who are having the procedure done in their later years. Keeping the eyes moist and keeping them from drying out is an important part of aftercare for everyone who has undergone corrective eye surgery, but it is even more crucial for the elderly and for anyone who tends to naturally have dry eyes. Using eyedrops routinely after the corrective procedure is a very simple, yet very effective way to avoid problems and complications. The clinic will provide the patient with the proper lubricating eye drops for post-surgery use.
One of the reasons why in the later years it is still safe and effective is because overall the procedure has proven to have very few complications and has very low risk. This is because the surface of the eye is not cut with traditional surgical instruments, which can cause damage to the cornea. Instead, the small cut that needs to be made is accomplished with a laser beam. This means the incision will be tiny, accurate and extremely clean. All of these factors result in much less risk of infection and other complications.
However, even with a very good track record of success, in general it is not completely foolproof. Corrective eye surgery patients experience complications from the procedure or disappointing results approximately 5% of the time. When the procedure does not go well, the patient might end up having fluctuating vision, seeing halos around light sources, having increased sensitivity to glaring light, and possibly experiencing more dryness of the eyes.
Even though most laser eye surgeons are in agreement that Lasik eye surgery in the later stages of life is still a viable and effective option, they also mention that Lasik vision surgery is not the right procedure for everyone. There are conditions, such as glaucoma and presbyopia, which will not be corrected through laser eye surgery. In fact, with glaucoma, such a procedure can even worsen the condition.
December 31st, 2011 at 11:32 am
Your prescription needs to be stable for about 2 years before you’re eligible for corrective surgery, at least by a reputable eye surgeon. Your eyes do tend to change more when you’re young and when you’re old. My prescription didn’t settle down until I was 29, but my eye doctor did say most people won’t see their prescription stop changing until they’re 25 years old or so at which point it stays pretty consistent until you get older and it starts changing again.
If you’ve had the same prescription the last 1-2 years though, it’s worth looking into to see if you’re otherwise a candidate (some eyes just aren’t suitable for the surgery). It’s one of the best things I’ve done for myself and glad I did it.
December 31st, 2011 at 11:50 am
One of the requirements for lasik is that your vision be stable for at least two years. Majority of procedures require that you be at least 21, as well.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Most providers consider 18 years of age the minimum age for laser vision correction (LVC). LVC is a general term referring to both Lasik and PRK. It may be possible for you to have LVC at age 19, depending upon the amount of your refraction (glasses prescription), the stability of your refraction during the last several years, your general medical health, your family history, and other factors. I have treated many patients as young as 18 years old. However, I have also advised many patients in the 18 – 25 year old range that they need to wait a few more years to make sure their eyes are stable before proceeding.