When should i get lasik? (2024)

When should i get lasik?

Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate.

Should I get LASIK at 21?

LASIK is an FDA approved procedure for people older than 18, but Bansal recommends patients wait until they are around age 21 and out of school before having LASIK or any form of corrective surgery. After this age, the eyes change more minimally and the benefits of LASIK are more likely to last longer.

How do you know if you should get LASIK?

Can you get LASIK too early?

Generally speaking, you can never be too old for LASIK. To be a suitable candidate, you must have good general health, a stable prescription, the correct corneal anatomy, and of course, be over 18. As such, patients are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to see if they meet these requirements.

Why you should not get LASIK?

Some risks of laser eye surgery are: Permanent dry eye. Halos, glare, or double vision, making it hard to drive at night. Over- or under-correction of vision, meaning you still need glasses or contacts.

What if I sneeze during LASIK?

Should you sneeze during the procedure, the laser will simply shut off and readjust. Once you have settled back into a still position, the laser will resume, perfectly centered, to complete treatment. Sneezing, blinking, coughing or any other involuntary movement will not affect the outcome of the LASIK procedure.

Does LASIK last forever?

While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits can decrease over time. For most patients, the results of LASIK will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need an enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.

Who is not a good candidate for LASIK?

Patients with autoimmune diseases are not good LASIK candidates. Many autoimmune conditions cause dry eye syndrome. A dry eye may not heal well and has a higher risk of post-LASIK infection. Other conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma or cataracts often affect LASIK results.

Is LASIK Worth the risk?

You have severe nearsightedness or have been diagnosed with a high refractive error. The possible benefits of LASIK surgery may not justify the risks. You have fairly good (overall) vision. If you see well enough to need contacts or glasses only part of the time, improvement from the surgery may not be worth the risks.

Can you go blind from LASIK?

MYTH #2: You will go blind. Actually, as of this writing, there are no reported cases of blindness due to LASIK surgery itself. In a recent study, it was discovered that patients actually have a 34 times higher risk of going blind from a contact lens infection than going blind from LASIK.

Can LASIK give you 20 20 vision?

In most cases, LASIK has the potential to provide 20/20 vision. However, some people – including those who have higher prescriptions – may not achieve this level of visual acuity after laser surgery. If your vision is blurred beyond a certain point, you may still need a prescription for glasses or contacts.

Is LASIK worth it at 20?

Lasik vision correction is an excellent idea when you are in your twenties. As long as the person waits until their vision is stable, there is often little reason to consider another treatment.

Is LASIK covered by insurance?

LASIK Isn't Covered by Insurance, But You Can Get Discounts. Key takeaways: LASIK is not covered by Medicare or private health insurance plans because it's not considered medically necessary. Nationally, the average cost of LASIK is about $2,600 per eye and $4,200 for both eyes.

What is the success rate of LASIK?

As with general success rates, the rate of patient satisfaction from LASIK surgery is quite high. It's estimated that between 92 to 98 percent of LASIK patients are satisfied with the results that have been achieved.

How often does LASIK go wrong?

The LASIK complication rate is only about 0.3%. The most commonly reported LASIK complications are infection or dry eye that persists for more than six months. Other complications include: Undercorrections occur when the laser removes too little tissue.

How do I not blink after LASIK?

During the procedure, the eyelids are held open with a small medical device to prevent blinking. It is therefore impossible for you to close your eye or blink during the procedure. We keep the surface of your eye lubricated with drops, so your eye does not get dry, and you will not feel the need to blink.

How can I stay calm during LASIK?

How do you not blink during eye surgery?

Before your surgery, we put numbing drops in your eyes. These drops help prevent any discomfort during your surgery, as well as eliminate your urge to blink. Along with the numbing drops, we also use a special medical device called a lid speculum to gently hold your eyes open.

Will you need glasses after LASIK?

The majority of people who undergo LASIK surgery do not need glasses following their procedure. LASIK corrects the vision by reshaping the cornea with a specialized laser and these changes are permanent in the vast majority (96 to 99%) of our patients.

Do eyes get worse after LASIK?

See your doctor right away if any of the following happens after LASIK: new symptoms develop. vision gets worse (beyond the normal haziness/blurriness that occurs after the procedure)

Does LASIK have side effects?

Risks. Complications that result in a loss of vision are very rare. But certain side effects of LASIK eye surgery, particularly dry eyes and temporary visual problems such as glare, are fairly common. These usually clear up after a few weeks or months, and very few people consider them to be a long-term problem.

Is LASIK painful?

Is LASIK Eye Surgery Painful? Fortunately, LASIK eye surgery is not painful. Right before your procedure, your surgeon will place numbing eye drops into both of your eyes. While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain.

What prescription is too high for LASIK?

In order to qualify for LASIK, your eyes must meet certain requirements. The average refractive prescription that qualifies for laser eye surgery is: Nearsighted ness up to -8.0 diopters. Astigmatism up to -3.0 diopters.

Is it worth getting LASIK after 40?

Of course, LASIK eligibility depends on quite a few factors, several of which are unique from person to person. But the answer is generally yes – LASIK is worth it after 40. LASIK is safe and effective for patients older than 40 and produces the long-term value that this refractive surgery is known for.

What happens if LASIK fails?

If the LASIK flap is not made correctly, it may fail to adhere properly to the eye's surface or microscopic wrinkles called striae (STRIE-ee) could develop in the flap. These flap complications can cause optical aberrations and distorted vision.

Can you wear contacts 10 years after LASIK?

The bottom line is that YES, you can wear contact lenses after LASIK if you choose to. And there are a few occasions where you might chose to do so. I thought I'd dedicate this post to discussing these occasions. Historically, the average age of a LASIK patient is around 40 years old.

What percentage of LASIK goes blind?

While a LASIK procedure may, in very rare cases, cause a person to lose a few lines of vision on the vision chart, in all likelihood, it is not going to cause legal blindness. According to Consumer Reports, disabling vision loss is an extremely rare complication of LASIK, occurring less than 1 percent of the time.

Can LASIK change your eye color?

Eye color is just one aspect of an individual's unique look! Many people wonder if LASIK eye surgery can be used to permanently change eye color. The answer is, quite simply, no; LASIK does not alter the color of the eye.

Can LASIK be done twice?

Is it possible to have LASIK surgery twice? The short answer is yes, though this is usually only done 5 – 10 years after the initial treatment. However, rest assured that LASIK offers long-term vision correction, and very few people require a second session.

Can LASIK correct better than glasses?

While the results of this advanced refractive procedure will vary from patient to patient, the majority of individuals who undergo LASIK report that their vision is about the same – if not slightly better – than it was when wearing glasses or contacts prior to surgery.

Is 22 a good age for LASIK?

The best candidates for LASIK should be at least 22 years old with stable vision. Your prescription must have remained stable for at least one year. You need to be free of eye injuries, infections, and diseases.

Is 22 a good age for LASIK?

The best candidates for LASIK should be at least 22 years old with stable vision. Your prescription must have remained stable for at least one year. You need to be free of eye injuries, infections, and diseases.

Can you get laser eye surgery in your 20s?

From birth until your twenties, your eyes are constantly changing. That's why your twenties are considered to be the optimal time to start considering laser eye surgery – it's when these changes come to a halt.

Can I do LASIK at 20?

The US FDA has approved the use of LASIK for those over 18 years. Many doctors may ask you to wait for an additional couple of years, to ensure that your refraction is stable. It is because a person's prescription does not usually change after eighteen years of age.

Can I get LASIK at 23?

LASIK is FDA-approved for adults ages 18 and up. Additionally, most doctors won't perform LASIK on anyone under 18 years of age for several reasons. First, eyesight changes well into early adulthood. Most providers won't perform LASIK on those under 18 because eyes tend to keep changing into early adulthood.