Tuesday, December 30, 2014

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Laser Surgery

Age is a factor for LASIK


Eye surgeries are performed to correct or improve vision issues like nearsightedness or farsightedness. There are several types of eye surgeries available. Laser eye surgeries are the most common with LASIK being the most recognized.


Factors


There are several factors to consider when deciding on whether or not laser surgery is the appropriate surgery. Age is one consideration.


Considerations


The FDA has not approved LASIK surgery for persons under the age of 18. The eye is still changing and adjusting until adulthood. There are some cases in which the eyes are not fully developed until 21 years or older.


Warnings


There is little evidence to support that LASIK is safe and effective on children. Choosing to undergo LASIK surgery before the eyes are fully developed may result in temporary results.


Retreatment


A second LASIK surgery, or retreatment, may be required. There are several reasons why retreatment may become necessary. If the surgery was initially performed before the eye has fully developed the likelihood of retreatment increases.


Results


For the last ten years LASIK has been performed on millions of patients in the United States. Results do vary for individuals. The national average is 85 percent for 20/20 vision or better.