Laser eye surgery can sometimes treat high myopia, but suitability depends heavily on corneal thickness, shape, and overall eye health.
When high myopia may still be suitable
Higher prescriptions remove more tissue, so detailed scans check the cornea can safely support treatment and still leave a strong residual bed.
- Healthy, regularly shaped corneas with adequate thickness on tomography
- No signs of keratoconus, ectasia risk, or suspicious topography
- Realistic expectations that not every high prescription reaches full 20/20 unaided
- Willingness to consider surface laser or SMILE if safer than LASIK
- Understanding that enhancement options may be more limited than for lower myopia
When other options are safer
Very high myopia can push laser beyond safe limits, increasing the risk of corneal weakening. In these cases, lens-based solutions are usually preferred.
- Predicted residual stromal thickness or percentage tissue altered outside safety margins
- Abnormal curvature, thin corneas, or asymmetry between eyes on scans
- History of eye rubbing, allergy, or ectasia risk factors
- Discussion of implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) or lens replacement as alternatives
- Careful retinal assessment because high myopia carries extra retinal risk
