I’m in my 50s and would like LASIK surgery — is my age a concern?
I’m in my 50s and would like LASIK surgery — is my age a concern?
DEAR DOCTOR :
I’m in my 50s and considering LASIK surgery. Should my age be a factor when deciding whether to have this procedure?
DEAR READER:
I can understand why you’re considering LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis). It can correct common eye problems — nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism — and can eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.
LASIK corrects vision by reshaping the cornea, the clear dome at the front of the eye. The procedure is painless, and complications are few when the doctor is experienced.
What happens during LASIK surgery?
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is the most commonly performed laser refractive surgery. After the eye is numbed, a microkeratome (which works like a carpenter’s plane) or femtosecond laser creates a flap about the size of a contact lens from the corneal epithelium and stroma (middle layer of the cornea). The flap is folded back to expose the stromal bed. An excimer laser removes a precise amount of the stromal bed. The flap is then returned to its original position. No sutures are needed.
As LASIK has become more popular, many of us have contemplated having our vision surgically corrected. Even in your 50s or beyond, if your eyes are otherwise healthy, LASIK surgery can produce excellent results.
Age itself isn’t a big factor in deciding whether to have LASIK surgery. Surgical outcomes are similar regardless of age. But you and your doctor should consider the following age-related eye conditions when making the decision:
Cataracts. With age, the lens of the eye can become clouded. If this happens, the clouded lens can be removed and an artificial one implanted. If you’ve already had LASIK surgery, it’s trickier to choose the correct lenses for cataract surgery. If there’s any sign of clouding, your ophthalmologist may recommend cataract surgery first, and to reconsider LASIK surgery only after the cataract surgery has healed.
Glaucoma is caused by increased fluid pressure within the eye. The pressure affects the optic nerve, which starts in the back of your eye, leads to the brain and allows you to see. If glaucoma is untreated, it can lead to blindness. Ophthalmologists screen for glaucoma by checking intraocular pressure (fluid pressure inside the eye) and looking for optic nerve damage. LASIK surgery leads to lower intraocular pressure readings. This may interfere with early diagnosis. Tell your ophthalmologist if you’ve had LASIK when you are being screened for glaucoma. You should not have LASIK if you have moderate or severe glaucoma. If your glaucoma is mild and easily managed, you may still be a candidate for the surgery.
Dry eye syndrome. With age, your eyes produce fewer tears. LASIK often worsens dry eye. Any ophthalmologist you see about LASIK should ask you about whether your eyes have a tendency to be dry, but just in case they don’t ask, be sure to mention it.
Presbyopia. In our 40s and 50s, we become less able to focus clearly on near objects. That’s because the lenses inside our eyes get stiff, and a stiff lens can’t bend light in the way that’s necessary to see near objects. The usual remedy is to wear reading glasses. LASIK doesn’t prevent presbyopia. If you have LASIK in your 40s, you’re still likely to need reading glasses within the next 10 years or so.
The price for LASIK varies by doctor and by community. The average price may be around $2000-$2500. Health insurance generally does not cover the cost. more
DEAR DOCTOR :
I’m in my 50s and considering LASIK surgery. Should my age be a factor when deciding whether to have this procedure?
DEAR READER:
I can understand why you’re considering LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis). It can correct common eye problems — nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism — and can eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.
LASIK corrects vision by reshaping the cornea, the clear dome at the front of the eye. The procedure is painless, and complications are few when the doctor is experienced.
What happens during LASIK surgery?
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is the most commonly performed laser refractive surgery. After the eye is numbed, a microkeratome (which works like a carpenter’s plane) or femtosecond laser creates a flap about the size of a contact lens from the corneal epithelium and stroma (middle layer of the cornea). The flap is folded back to expose the stromal bed. An excimer laser removes a precise amount of the stromal bed. The flap is then returned to its original position. No sutures are needed.
As LASIK has become more popular, many of us have contemplated having our vision surgically corrected. Even in your 50s or beyond, if your eyes are otherwise healthy, LASIK surgery can produce excellent results.
Age itself isn’t a big factor in deciding whether to have LASIK surgery. Surgical outcomes are similar regardless of age. But you and your doctor should consider the following age-related eye conditions when making the decision:
Cataracts. With age, the lens of the eye can become clouded. If this happens, the clouded lens can be removed and an artificial one implanted. If you’ve already had LASIK surgery, it’s trickier to choose the correct lenses for cataract surgery. If there’s any sign of clouding, your ophthalmologist may recommend cataract surgery first, and to reconsider LASIK surgery only after the cataract surgery has healed.
Glaucoma is caused by increased fluid pressure within the eye. The pressure affects the optic nerve, which starts in the back of your eye, leads to the brain and allows you to see. If glaucoma is untreated, it can lead to blindness. Ophthalmologists screen for glaucoma by checking intraocular pressure (fluid pressure inside the eye) and looking for optic nerve damage. LASIK surgery leads to lower intraocular pressure readings. This may interfere with early diagnosis. Tell your ophthalmologist if you’ve had LASIK when you are being screened for glaucoma. You should not have LASIK if you have moderate or severe glaucoma. If your glaucoma is mild and easily managed, you may still be a candidate for the surgery.
Dry eye syndrome. With age, your eyes produce fewer tears. LASIK often worsens dry eye. Any ophthalmologist you see about LASIK should ask you about whether your eyes have a tendency to be dry, but just in case they don’t ask, be sure to mention it.
Presbyopia. In our 40s and 50s, we become less able to focus clearly on near objects. That’s because the lenses inside our eyes get stiff, and a stiff lens can’t bend light in the way that’s necessary to see near objects. The usual remedy is to wear reading glasses. LASIK doesn’t prevent presbyopia. If you have LASIK in your 40s, you’re still likely to need reading glasses within the next 10 years or so.
The price for LASIK varies by doctor and by community. The average price may be around $2000-$2500. Health insurance generally does not cover the cost. more
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Narendra Kumarji. You have explained it very clearly. Now there will be no doubt left. Yes you have to have faith in your Doctor. If you do not have faith in your Doctor, you will always complain and never be Happy. more
Nov 11
I'm glad that you have taken the discussion forward in order to clear the confusion. "Age itself isn’t a big factor in deciding whether to have LASIK surgery" - a statement from the post in question - can very well create confusion. In any case, my intention is simply to present a clear picture. Refractive surgery is generally thought of for the management of errors of refraction (myopia, hypermetropia [to a lesser extent] and astigmatism). And all presbyopes (after the age of 40) may or may not have one of these conditions. If a presbyope having myopia undergoes refractive surgery, he/she is likely to need reading glasses (which he might not have needed prior to surgery. If a presbyope having hypermetropia undergoes refractive surgery, he/she is likely to still need reading glasses. And, if a prebyope having astigmatism undergoes refractive surgery, he/she is again likely to still need reading glasses. Moreover, the latest form of refractive surgery for presbyopia is yet to prove its usefulness, as it has got its limitations. To conclude, I would like to say that "have faith in your eye doctor...and go by his/her expert advice". more
Nov 11
Narendra Kumarji. This post is from a Expereinced Harvard Doctor. I am not creating any confusion. The Doctor is very clearly explaining to a 50 Year old Female Patient. And he very clearly says: "Presbyopia. In our 40s and 50s, we become less able to focus clearly on near objects. That’s because the lenses inside our eyes get stiff, and a stiff lens can’t bend light in the way that’s necessary to see near objects. The usual remedy is to wear reading glasses. LASIK doesn’t prevent presbyopia" I hope there it is very clear and there is no confusion. After reading this no one will go for LASIK surgery at that age. Because some unethical Eye Surgeons encourage LASIK surgery. more
Nov 10
Please try to avoid confusion. Eye surgeons generally do not encourage refractive surgery in patients who are in their 50s, as everyone of these is a presbyope! more
Nov 10
