Should I Get LASIK Eye Surgery After 40?

At Providence Eye & Laser Specialists, some patients ask, “Should I get LASIK eye surgery after 40?” The simple answer is yes. However, these are your eyes, and there is nothing simple about them or their care. As a LASIK surgeons and fellowship-trained cornea specialists, Dr. Nunnery and Dr. Mozayeni have received advanced training necessary to assist those who want LASIK eye surgery after 40.

I’m Over 40 Years Old: Am I a Candidate for LASIK?

Whether or not you are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery can only be determined through our in-depth consultation with one of our LASIK surgeons. However, please know that just because you are over 40 years old does not mean that you are not a candidate for LASIK.

When You Might Be a Good Candidate for LASIK

When one’s near vision begins to diminish, many incorrectly assume that readers, bifocal/progressive glasses, or readers over contacts are the only options, and LASIK after 40 isn’t a possibility. Fortunately, this is far from the truth. Today, with our proven, leading-edge technology, there are two options:

• LASIK for distance, but you would still need to use readers.
• Monovision LASIK, which is a proven solution that provides great vision at all distance without being dependent on glasses, contacts or even readers

When You Might Not Be a Good Candidate for LASIK

If your eye health has begun to diminish due to cataracts, LASIK may not be the best option for you. Instead of focusing on having LASIK after 40, you may be a better candidate for Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE).

Get a Second Opinion to Determine If You’re a LASIK Eye Surgery Candidate

It is always good to get two opinions for any surgical procedure. LASIK practices vary dramatically when it comes to technology, the surgeon’s expertise, and how you are treated as a patient. What may be possible at one LASIK practice due to their technology and/or surgeon expertise may NOT be possible at another. As we’ve already discussed, whether or not you are a good candidate is based completely on you and your eyesight, not whether you are over 40 years old or under 40 years old.

Make Sure You Do Your Research on the LASIK Practice and the LASIK Surgeon

We encourage everyone, over 40 or not, to do their research. When you are considering laser eye surgery, you should meet with more than one LASIK surgeon, understand what technology the surgeon is using, and review the surgeon's qualifications. Because LASIK technology has changed so rapidly over the years, some information on the internet may no longer be relevant. Also, make sure you understand how you will be treated as a patient by each surgeon – will you be able to meet your surgeon at the consultation, or will you not meet him or her until the day of your surgery? Online research can also be beneficial by searching topics of interest, such as technology, reviews, and other LASIK-related topics.

If you’re one of many people wondering, “Should I get LASIK after 40?”, contact the Providence Eye & Laser Specialists team today to schedule a complimentary consultation to find out if you are a LASIK candidate!