What Is the Best Age for LASIK Eye Surgery?

Laser vision correction was first approved by the FDA in 1995. Now LASIK is the most popular vision correction surgery in the United States. With around 700,000 procedures performed each year, it has become the go-to option for people hoping to improve their vision and reduce their reliance on eyeglasses and contact lenses. However, while irritation from prescription eyewear can begin early in life, the best age for LASIK is not always the same. An evaluation with a qualified and experienced LASIK doctor remains the most effective way to determine the best age for you to have LASIK.

20/20 Institute has provided LASIK in Denver and surrounding areas for over 20 years. Placing patient safety and satisfaction as our highest priorities, we use advanced candidacy diagnostics—several of which are underutilized by many other LASIK providers—to help us determine when (and if) LASIK is most appropriate. During your FREE LASIK evaluation, we will listen to your desires, thoroughly evaluate your candidacy, and help you determine when you might be at the best age for LASIK.

Call 20/20 Institute at 303-202-0669 to schedule a LASIK screening today. Free of both cost and obligation, this consultation allows us to assess your visual needs and help you determine if laser vision correction is the right fit. We have offices in Westminster, Downtown Denver, the Tech Center, and Colorado Springs. We welcome patients from all surrounding mountain and plains communities.

Is There an “Ideal” Age for LASIK?

LASIK is approved for adults 18 and over. Does that mean everyone over the age of 18 is at the best age for LASIK? Not at all. There are quite a few other considerations, such as your vision stability, general eye health, and goals and expectations. 

Let’s take a closer look at what LASIK may offer at different stages of life:

LASIK for Ages 18-24

People in this age group tend to bounce back from procedures quickly, customarily making recovery swift. If you meet the candidacy requirements, such as a stable vision prescription, LASIK may be a great fit for your needs during this time. However, if your eyeglasses prescription has not yet stabilized—which is not uncommon at this stage of life—you may not currently be at the best age for you, in particular, to have LASIK.

LASIK for Ages 25-40

This is often considered the “sweet spot” for LASIK. During this time, most people have had a stable prescription for a few years, improving their candidacy for the procedure. Recovery is still quick at this time in life and there are still plenty of years left to enjoy the benefits of vision correction. However, as we near our 40s, an unavoidable hardening of the eye’s natural lens (presbyopia) can impact the approach taken to correct your vision. As you approach the upper ages in this group, these things will need to be taken into consideration.

LASIK for Ages 40-55

Custom LASIK may work wonderfully for some people in this age group. However, as you enter your 40s, presbyopia is unavoidable. LASIK doesn’t fix presbyopia. All the same, there are custom options—like Monovision LASIK—that can help. You may still need reading glasses for close-up work (like reading), but your dependence on prescription glasses or contact lenses for far vision can still be greatly reduced.

LASIK at Any (Adult) Age

At 20/20 Institute, we know that, when it comes to LASIK, age really is just a number. Some people are ideal candidates for the procedure by age 18, while others may not be good candidates until they are well into their 30s. Our patient-centered philosophy holds your safety, desires, and satisfaction as top priorities. During your FREE LASIK evaluation, we will assess your candidacy based on multiple criteria to help you determine when the best age for LASIK will be for you.

Am I Too Old for LASIK?

For those 56 and over, LASIK is still an option—so don’t count yourself out just yet! While you might have heard otherwise, LASIK can be performed on older adults. However, you’ll need a thorough exam to ensure your eyes are healthy enough for the procedure. At this point in life, things like cataracts, glaucoma, and other age-related conditions can affect your eligibility for LASIK.

Here’s the thing: LASIK is amazing, but it isn’t right for everyone. If it’s not right for you? Not to worry. There are a number of other—also amazing—options that may still offer clearer vision and reduced dependency on glasses and contacts. LASIK alternatives, such as cataract surgery or RLE, may be a better fit at this stage of life.

One of the benefits of choosing 20/20 Institute for your LASIK evaluation is that our doctors will recommend the procedure best suited to your needs even if we don’t offer it. As a doctor-owned and independent LASIK provider, we have built strong relationships with other local vision correction specialists and can provide a referral to one of our trusted colleagues for things like cataract surgery.

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Your Choice of LASIK Surgeon Matters

Some LASIK providers—we’re not naming any names here—have been reported to be focused on their bottom line. This means they tend to prioritize how many procedures they can perform. We are so very proud to do things very differently. We are conservative in our candidacy evaluation and transparent in explaining our findings. We want to help you find the vision correction procedure and the best age for that correct procedure for you; perhaps the best procedure for you is ICL, PRK, or RLE to allow you to enjoy clear vision for the longest amount of time possible.

At 20/20 Institute, all of our LASIK eye surgeries are performed with the same advanced technology. Bladeless, customizable, and guided by wavefront technology, our procedures are performed with precision to help ensure the most predictable outcomes. With our doctor’s surgical skill, candidacy requirements, and exceptional patient care, we can proudly report that a remarkable 99.67% of our patients have achieved 20/20 vision or better*. We are excited to learn what we can do for you.

Not only do we offer advanced LASIK technology and an impressive success rate, but we also offer Denver’s only true Best Price LASIK Guarantee. Simply put, if you find another provider who offers LASIK for less, we will honor that lower price and match their quoted level of services. We are here to make your LASIK journey as simple and stress-free as possible and welcome the opportunity to meet with you, get to know your needs, and help you decide if you are currently at the best age for LASIK.

Contact 20/20 Institute for a FREE LASIK Candidacy Screening

Are you ready to find out if you’re at the best age for LASIK? Contact 20/20 Institute online or call us today to schedule your free LASIK candidacy screening with one of our vision correction specialists. We have three offices in the Denver Metro Area and one in Colorado Springs. We serve Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Boulder, Ft. Collins, and all nearby areas of Colorado.