Over the years, with the advancements made in custom LASIK surgery, it has become an extremely popular gift. Husbands and wives present it to each other as an anniversary gift; parents give it to their children for graduating from college. It is now such a safe and effective form of surgery when performed on suitable candidates that many people no longer think twice about bestowing it on their loved ones as the ultimate sign of their affection. After all, what could be better than the gift of unencumbered flawless vision?
However, if you are considering LASIK as a gift for your teenager, there are some considerations you will want to bear in mind. While IntraLASIK is one of the safest surgical procedures in the history of medicine, its safety profile is dependent on proper candidacy screening. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved LASIK for patients under the age of 18 because they are not considered suitable candidates for the procedure.
At Peña Eye Institute, we carefully screen all of our patients to ensure that they are excellent candidates for LASIK before allowing them to undergo the procedure. By doing this, we virtually eliminate the possibility of any complication. When it comes to LASIK and teens, our surgeon, Dr. Raul “Raulito” Peña, is particularly meticulous in his screening practices.
Why are teens not considered good candidates for LASIK?
In order to be considered a good candidate for LASIK surgery, a patient’s eyes should be fully matured, and his or her eyeglass prescription should be stable for at least one year and preferably two. Most people’s eyes have not fully matured until they reach at least 18 years of age. Many people’s eyes don’t reach full maturity until they enter their twenties. Until their eyes have matured, teenagers with refractive errors will find that their vision will continue to be in a state of flux.
It is always best to wait for the vision to stabilize before performing LASIK surgery, regardless of the patient’s age. Otherwise, the patient’s vision may continue to degrade after surgery, rendering the results of LASIK temporary.
Learn More about LASIK and Teens
If you are at least 18 years of age and would like to find out if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery, or if you simply want to know more about the issue of LASIK and teens, we invite you to contact Peña Eye Institute today. We would be pleased to assist you.
