Laser eye surgery is usually suitable for adults whose eyes have finished growing and whose prescription has been stable for some time.
Typical age range
Most people are assessed from their mid-twenties onwards. By this stage, prescriptions tend to stabilise and long-term results are more predictable.
- Suitability often starts from around 21-25 years, depending on stability
- Prescription should have changed very little over the previous two years
- Corneal scans must show healthy, stable shape and thickness
- Teenagers and very young adults are rarely offered surgery
- Older adults may still be suitable if the lens is clear and healthy
How age affects the choice of treatment
As people reach their forties and beyond, presbyopia and early lens changes appear. At this point, lens-based options may sometimes be better than laser alone.
- In early forties, laser can still work well but may not remove the need for reading glasses
- Over mid-forties, lens replacement is often discussed as an alternative
- There is no strict upper age limit if the eye is otherwise healthy
- Decisions are based more on eye health than on age alone
- Your surgeon will match the procedure to your stage of life and visual goals
