When Should I Get LASIK? Age, Eligibility, and Recovery Explained

If you’ve been thinking about ditching your glasses or contacts, you might be wondering: Is now a good time for LASIK surgery? Is there a “best age?" Should you wait until your prescription stops changing?

In the United States, over 700,000 LASIK eye surgeries are performed every year, and timing does matter. But the right time for LASIK depends less on your age and more on your eye health and vision stability, say Scott Macrae, MD and Dan Savage, MD, PhD, LASIK eye surgeons and international authorities on LASIK from University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute. Here’s what they say to consider before scheduling laser vision correction.

Is There a “Best Age” for LASIK? 

Many people assume there’s a perfect age for LASIK surgery. But age alone is rarely the deciding factor. Generally, candidates must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Have had a stable vision prescription for one to two years

• Not be pregnant at the time of surgery

The best time to get LASIK surgery is when your vision is stable and when you’re ready.

Common LASIK Misconceptions

• “I’m too young.” Some people’s prescription stabilizes at a younger age.

• “I’m too old.” If you’re in good overall and ocular health, LASIK can be performed at most ages, even in patients with conditions like well-controlled glaucoma.

• “I’m not healthy enough.” Patients can be eligible despite chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, well-controlled diabetes, and other conditions. 

Eligibility depends more on your individual eye evaluation than age or medical condition alone. 

Ensuring the best outcomes requires a rigorous eye exam that can take up to two hours. The evaluation includes  a complete health history and measuring more than 30 different factors about your eyes, including: 

• corneal thickness 

• corneal shape/topography 

• tear film quality/dryness 

• pupil size 

• higher-order aberrations 
  
  

About 20 percent of evaluated patients are not good candidates for LASIK, but there are many other vision correction options available.

Why Vision Stability Matters  

When LASIK May (or May Not) Make Sense 

There are both medical and lifestyle reasons to consider LASIK.

Reasons people choose LASIK

• Starting a new career path like law enforcement, military, or other high-demand professions that require sharp vision

• Playing competitive sports or leading an active lifestyle

• Frustration with contacts or glasses

• Contact lens intolerance

• To fine-tune vision after cataract surgery
  

When LASIK might not be best (right now)

If your eye evaluation reveals concerns about your eye structure, like too-thin corneas, or other conditions like dry eye, your surgeon can discuss other vision correction options available to you.

Does the Time of Year Matter for LASIK Surgery? 

The short answer: No. Because recovery is typically rapid, usually within 24 hours, many patients choose a time that aligns with their schedule.

The time of year doesn’t affect surgical outcomes, but patients should plan to:

• Avoid certain activities like swimming

• Skip eye makeup for about 5–10 days after

• Protect eyes from irritation during the early healing period
  
  

People with seasonal allergies often do better after LASIK because there is no longer a contact lens to trap allergens against the eyes.  

Practical and financial considerations also influence when people have LASIK. These may include surplus year-end flex spending or health savings balances, tax returns, or work schedules (summer vacation for teachers and college students, for example). 

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