What Is the Maximum Age Limit for LASIK Eye Surgery?

What Is the Maximum Age Limit for LASIK Eye Surgery?
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Health
Can You Be Too Old for LASIK?
10 conditions that could disqualify you from getting this laser eye surgery
By
Lauren Evoy Davis,
AARP
Comments
En español
Published
April 11, 2025
Getty Images
Laser surgery to correct vision is the most common elective eye surgery — more than 800,000 people get it each year, according to the Refractive Surgery Council. People tend to have
LASIK
, short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, between ages 20 and 40. But can older adults get this surgery, or do people age out of the option?
“We never think of a hard, fast rule or cut off age-wise; the decision of who should have a type of elective refractive surgery is considered to be truly patient-specific, as long as they don't have any outstanding health conditions with their eyes,” says Michelle E. Andreoli, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Although there’s no definitive age cut-off for LASIK, you must be at least 18 years old to have the procedure. To perform this type of refractive surgery, doctors use an ultraviolet laser to reshape the curvature of the cornea, the clear covering of the eye that refracts light.
More effective for younger eyes
Research scientists in Germany studied two groups of people who got LASIK surgery. One group included 341 people aged 55 and older, and the second group included 341 people between the ages of 30 and 40. They found that the safety for both groups was very similar, but it was not equally effective. After the surgery, the people in the older group had more nearsightedness, also called myopia, and
worse clarity of vision
, according to a 2024 article published in the journal
Scientific Reports
. The researchers found no difference in the effectiveness and safety of farsighted people.
People tend to have more problems with their eyes as they age. So other eye conditions can certainly limit the success of the surgery, says Wuqaas M. Munir, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Maryland Medical System.
Who should skip LASIK?
Lasik is not for everyone. If you have one of these conditions, you might need to hang on to your glasses,
according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Many of these conditions become more common with age, making older eyes less likely to be good candidates for the surgery.
1. Certain autoimmune diseases
These can include conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. People with arthritis can develop eye issues from inflammation. Lupus is associated with vision changes. Also, the medications used to treat some autoimmune disorders hamper the immune system, making healing a challenge.
2. Blepharitis
This inflammation of the eyelids causes crusting of the eyelashes that increases risk of infection, so people with this condition aren’t good candidates for LASIK surgery,
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3. Cataracts
This condition causes
clouding of the eye
. You should wait to have LASIK until after you’ve had cataract surgery.
4. Diabetes
This metabolic disease can also affect your sight. Although some people with well-controlled
diabetes
may be candidates, they may have a longer healing period.
5. Immunodeficiency conditions like HIV
People with these conditions may not heal properly after surgery due to the conditions themselves or medications like steroids, which can slow healing.
6. Glaucoma
This is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. Those with uncontrolled
glaucoma
are not a good candidates for LASIK.
7. Large pupils
Depending on the size of your pupils, LASIK may not be recommended.
8. Migraines
If you take sumatriptan (Imitrex) for migraines, you might be at risk for drug-induced conjunctivitis (pink eye).
9. Thin corneas
Instead of LASIK, those with thin corneas might do better with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). In this procedure, the epithelium, the top surface of the eye, is removed rather than forming a flap, as is done with LASIK.
10. Dry eyes
This condition, where
your eyes don’t make enough tears
, is common in people over 50. LASIK can make it worse.
You would want to check with your doctor to see if you have any of these conditions or others that would make you less eligible, such as problems with your immune system. “They don't necessarily mean that you can't have the surgery, but there are risk factors for healing,” Munir says.
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Questions to ask before choosing a surgeon
Ask your eye doctor to help you find a reliable surgeon. You will want to find someone who does the operation frequently, so it’s a good idea to ask how many years the surgeon has been performing the procedure. You can also ask what kind of laser they use to see if it’s the latest FDA-approved technology. The newest technology was released in 2018 and is called iDESIGN Refractive Studio, STAR Excimer Laser System.
What to expect
If you’re feeling nervous, the doctor can prescribe a sedative to take before the procedure, and you should have someone drive you to and from the surgery center. The doctor will seat you in a reclining chair, numb your eye, and use an instrument to hold your eye open during the half-hour surgery. The doctor will create a flap on the cornea using a laser to reshape it, thus correcting your vision. Many people have 20/20 vision or better after surgery.
Once you are ready to go home, your doctor will give you goggles to wear while you sleep to protect your eyes from scratches. After the surgery, keep your hands away from your eyes. You shouldn’t shower until the next day.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology warns that some people might have discomfort following the procedure that diminishes over time. This can include:
Blurry vision
Double vision
Dry eyes
Eye pain
Halos
Light sensitivity
Scratchiness
Andreoli says typically the halos and dry eye side effects are worse for people over 50.
You'll visit your eye doctor a day or two after the procedure to check your eyesight and assess the healing process.
You may need touch-ups later
People who get LASIK can enjoy better vision for a long time, but not forever, because laser surgery doesn’t prevent the eye from changing or aging, according to the Refractive Surgery Council. Some people need reading glasses several years after LASIK surgery.
“The average LASIK patient in the United States can go about 10 to 15 years before they are slipping and starting to need distance glasses,” Andreoli says. One option is to get a touch-up. She cautions there may be some trade-offs to getting an enhancement. She adds that a touch-up may sharpen your eyesight for distance but may worsen your close-up sight.
Cost considerations
LASIK surgery can cost between $1,000 to $ 4,000, and insurance may not cover much, if any of the cost, because it is considered an elective surgery. If you’re still working and have a Flexible Spending Account or a Health Savings Account, you can use funds from those accounts for the surgery. Medicare considers this surgery elective and does not cover the cost but some Medicare Advantage might. You’d have to check with your provider about your case. Although insurance will not likely cover any of the cost, the surgery center may offer a warranty, which is worth asking about.
Be wary of low-cost deals that seem too good to be true. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) refunded $1.1 million to consumers tricked by bait-and-switch advertising by LCA-vision. Advertisements for $300 procedures were actually priced between $1,000 and $2,295 per eye for the surgery. Patients were given the true cost estimate following an eye exam during an in-person consultation.
When deciding whether LASIK is right for you, consider your overall health, cost, and long-term expectations.
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Lauren Evoy Davis is a contributing writer who has covered health and wellness for some of the nation’s top consumer publications. Her work has appeared in
the
National Council on Aging, Everyday Health, HealthCentral, Patient Power, WebMD
and
Verywell Health.
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