Who is Not Suitable for Laser Eye Surgery?

Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery? A variety of factors are considered in order to determine a patient’s suitability for laser eye surgery. The laser eye surgeon will determine your suitability based on your general health, your eye health, your prescription and the shape and thickness of your cornea. Around 20% of people who want to have laser eye surgery are not suitable. There are various health related issues and certain eye conditions that can make someone unsuitable for laser eye surgery.

Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery?

There are certain types of patients who are less likely to be suitable for laser eye surgery;

People under the age of 18:

Laser eye surgery is usually not performed on people under the age of 18. During the development years, the eyes are constantly changing, and this means the vision will adjust to these changes. It generally takes until the age of 20 for the vision to have stabilised. Vision related issues such as myopia can continue to develop up until this time. Therefore most laser eye surgeons will recommend waiting until at least the age of 20 before having laser eye surgery. A patient who has laser eye surgery when they are too young can experience complications with their vision when they are older, and it can be very detrimental.

People over the age of 40:

Patients over the age of 40 may have age related complications that will prevent them from being considered good candidates for laser eye surgery. At the age of 40, age related factors can cause the vision to change again. At the age of 60 and onwards, patients are at higher risk due to cataracts and glaucoma. These conditions cloud the lens of the eye and can damage the optic nerve. Older patients are also at greater risk of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a condition with which the retina deteriorates. However many people over the age of 40 have relatively healthy eyes, and are suitable for laser eye surgery. It is still possible for patients over the age of 60 to be good candidates for laser eye surgery, and many have had extremely successful results. Your laser eye surgeon will determine if you are a suitable candidate for laser eye surgery.

People with particular health issues:

There are various eye disorders that can prevent patients from being deemed suitable for laser eye surgery. Patients with autoimmune disorders, such as Lupus, may be more prone to complications with laser eye surgery. Patients with diabetes or similar health issues, may or may not be suitable. Patients who are pregnant, breast-feeding or using steroid drugs may not be suitable as these factors can cause the vision to fluctuate temporarily. These patients will not be suitable for laser eye surgery until the vision has stabilised.

People with very high refractive errors:

If you have a high, or above average, level of myopia or hyperopia, you may not be suitable for laser eye surgery.

Who is Not Suitable for Laser Eye Surgery?

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the question ‘Who is Not Suitable for Laser Eye Surgery?’. If you have one of these conditions, you may still be suitable for laser eye surgery. All of these conditions will be examined by your laser eye surgeon, to determine your suitability for laser eye surgery. If you are over the age of 40, you may also still be a suitable candidate for laser eye surgery. Suitability is determined by a number of factors and varies for each patient.

If you are unsure about the procedure or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us by calling now on 01-280 9248.

We also offer a complimentary video or phone consultation with Mr Fenton, our senior laser eye surgeon. During this consultation you can ask him any questions you may have, about suitability, risks, outcomes, or discuss any concerns you may have about laser eye surgery.

Fill in the form on the footer of this page and we will call you back to arrange a convenient time or use our Self-Service Booking System to schedule your complimentary consultation.