Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK? 12 Eligibility Criteria Explained

The 12 Core Eligibility Criteria

You're likely a good LASIK candidate if you meet ALL of these:

1. Age 18 or older (most surgeons prefer 21+)
2. Stable prescription for at least 12 months (no change >0.5 D)
3. Myopia between -1.0 and -10.0 D (some centres treat up to -12)
4. Hyperopia up to +5.0 D
5. Astigmatism up to -5.0 D
6. Adequate corneal thickness (typically 480 microns minimum)
7. No active eye infection or inflammation
8. No advanced dry eye disease
9. Healthy retina (no significant tears, holes, detachment risk)
10. No keratoconus or other corneal weakening conditions
11. No uncontrolled diabetes that affects healing
12. Not pregnant or breastfeeding (hormonal changes affect prescription)

Who Should NOT Have LASIK

LASIK is contraindicated if you have:

• Keratoconus or suspected keratoconus (cornea progressively thins and bulges)
• Severe dry eye that doesn't respond to treatment
• Autoimmune conditions like uncontrolled rheumatoid arthritis or lupus that delay healing
• Glaucoma — depends on type and control
• Cataract developing in the same eye
• Recent eye trauma or unstable cornea
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding (defer until 3 months after stopping)
• Under 18 — eyes still developing

A proper screening detects all of these before any surgery decision.

Age and LASIK: What Indian Patients Should Know

Under 18: Not eligible — eyes still changing.

18-21: Possible if prescription has been stable for 12+ months and refractive error is moderate. Most surgeons prefer to wait until 21.

21-40: Ideal LASIK age — stable prescription, good healing, longest benefit period.

40-50: Eligible, but you should understand presbyopia (near-vision loss) will develop on its normal schedule. Monovision LASIK can address this.

Over 50: Eligible if eyes are otherwise healthy and there's no early cataract. If cataract is forming, an IOL (intraocular lens) implant during cataract surgery may be a better long-term solution.

What If You're Borderline?

Many patients are 'borderline' — for example, your cornea is just thin enough, or your dry eye needs treatment first. Options include:

• Surface ablation (PRK or ASA): Removes corneal surface instead of creating a flap, requires less corneal thickness
• ReLEx SMILE: Preserves more corneal strength, sometimes works when traditional LASIK doesn't
• ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens): A premium soft lens placed inside the eye — ideal for high prescriptions or thin corneas
• Treat dry eye first: 2-3 months of medical management can make borderline patients eligible

The Pre-LASIK Evaluation: What to Expect

A proper LASIK candidacy assessment takes 60-90 minutes and includes:

• Detailed medical and eye history
• Refraction (with and without dilation)
• Corneal topography (Pentacam or similar)
• Pachymetry (corneal thickness measurement)
• Wavefront analysis
• Tear film and dry eye assessment (Schirmer test, TBUT)
• Pupil size measurement (for night vision planning)
• Detailed retinal examination

If any centre offers LASIK after only a 10-minute check, that's a major red flag.