Is there an age limit for laser eye surgery?

After the age of 18, surgery can be considered for patients under 21 if they have had a stable prescription for 2 years or more. If you are worried you may be too old, the good news is that there is no upper age limit for laser eye surgery.

If you have questions about laser eye surgery and the options that are available for you, please call us on 0203 369 2020, or request a call back.

After the age of 21, it’s possible to undergo the procedure at any time of life. However, your age may have a bearing on how laser eye surgery is carried out and how it affects you, so it’s important to seek individualised vision care for all ages from an experienced specialist. Here is some information on lower age limits and how laser eye surgery can be beneficial at different stages of life.

How old do you have to be to get laser eye surgery?

Although you are never too old, there is a lower age limit for laser eye surgery. The procedure is not advised for those under the age of 18, as their eyes are still growing and their eyesight is likely to change in the future. Laser eye surgery aims to change the way the eye focuses by correcting refractive errors, so it’s important that your eye is unlikely to change the way it focuses light after the surgery has been carried out.

After the age of 18, surgery can be considered for patients under 21 if they have had a stable prescription for 2 years or more. This would demonstrate that their eyesight has settled down and any refractive errors are unlikely to change significantly in future. If you are between the ages of 18 and 21, talk to an eye surgeon about your suitability for surgery.

One of our OCL surgeons answers the question of age limit for laser eye surgery in the UK.

Young people

Older teenagers and university students typically have very active lifestyles. From sporting activities to clubbing, young people on the go tend to find themselves in many situations where wearing glasses or contact lenses is simply inconvenient and impractical. Laser eye surgery can change all of this. With normal vision restored, you are free to do whatever you like without the hassle of glasses or contacts.

If you are considering laser eye surgery as a young person, discuss the options with your surgeon. They will be able to tell you if you have passed the lower age limit for eye surgery and if it will be beneficial for you to undergo treatment.

20s and 30s

At this age, many people are starting new careers or looking after young children – it’s a busy time. Hours of study or screen time can take their toll and patients may seek a simpler solution to correct their vision. Caring for babies and toddlers requires parents to be up in the night, when inserting contact lenses or reaching for glasses may not be practical.

40s and beyond – can I be too old for laser eye surgery?

By the time we reach our 40s, most people start to be affected by presbyopia, which makes small print difficult to read. While it will be common to now require reading glasses in addition to any surgically corrected vision, monovision or laser blended vision and Presbymax are forms of laser eye surgery that can treat presbyopia and eliminate the need for reading glasses in some suitable patients.

What makes our laser eye surgery unique?

Treatment tailored for you

You are always at the centre of everything we do. We do not offer a one size fits all approach but rather customise every single treatment to your individual visual needs, so you’ll always get the best procedure for your eyes and your vision

The choice for healthcare professionals

Our surgeons are known the world over and are some of the best in the country, with over 30,000 completed surgeries between them. We treat many surgeons, doctors and anaesthetists who also refer their friends and family to us as they know they will be in safe hands with our expert surgeons.

State of the art technology

We have spared no expense. Eye surgery requires perfect precision, that’s why we have invested in only the latest and most advanced technology. We are not tied into any particular company or manufacturer which means we have complete freedom to chose the best from the many options
available.

Experts you can trust

Patients need to be able to trust us with their eyes. We are honest with our approach and offer the very best evidence-based treatment with your best interests always at heart. We pride ourselves on recruiting and retaining the best staff in the business to ensure that you are supported throughout every step of your journey.

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