Am I Too Old for LASIK Surgery?

If you wear corrective lenses, LASIK surgery has probably crossed your mind. Are you a good candidate? Are you too old for the procedure? At Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, we utilize the latest, state-of-the-art laser technology to deliver safe, precise results and can answer any questions you may have about the procedure.

Since laser surgery treats the delicate cornea of your eye, we think it’s advisable to choose a laser surgeon who is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a cornea fellowship-trained specialist.

At Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, our LASIK surgeons are both board certified and cornea fellowship-trained. This means they have undergone an advanced course of training in all aspects of corneal disease and care. A fellowship is considered the ultimate training for an ophthalmologist. A fellowship-trained cornea surgeon will provide you with the highest level of care.

• Meet Dr. Adam Altman
• Meet Dr. Jonathan Primack
• Meet Dr. Kevin Shah

Drs. Altman, Primack and Shah prefer Bladeless Custom LASIK, also known as “all-laser” LASIK, because they consider it to be the most technologically advanced and safest way of performing LASIK. This is the only type of LASIK approved for NASA astronauts and U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy sailors and pilots.

Bladeless LASIK Candidates

You may be a candidate for Bladeless Custom LASIK if you meet the following criteria:

• Over the age of 18
• Have had a stable prescription for at least a year
• Are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism
• Relatively healthy (physically and psychologically)
• Do not have any eye infections/injuries

Can You Be Too Old for LASIK Surgery?

In general, adult vision is at its healthiest between age 19 and age 40, and most people in this range are usually good candidates for LASIK surgery. But age is only a number and, even if you are over 40, LASIK may still be an option.

When we are young, the lenses in our eyes are flexible and soft. As we age, however, the lenses become harder and do not change shape as easily as they once did. This causes light to focus behind the retina and results in our inability to focus on objects that are up close. This is called presbyopia, and it typically starts around the age of 40 or 45.

Our eyes change again at around age 60, with age-related vision problems, such as cataracts, possibly occurring at this time. If cataracts are present, a better option is to have cataract surgery with a multifocal or accommodating intraocular lens that can correct both distance and near vision simultaneously.

Your ophthalmologist will consider your overall eye health and any age-related changes in your vision when determining your candidacy for LASIK surgery. If there is no sign of disease (glaucoma, macular degeneration), you have healthy corneas, and you understand that you may need reading glasses for fine print after surgery, you may be a suitable candidate for surgery.

Are you too old for LASIK? Not necessarily! Schedule a free consultation with Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania so that we can discuss your case in more detail and determine whether surgery is right for you.