LASIK Requirements: Who Is a Good Candidate?

Medically reviewed by Dr. Fouad El Sayyad, Consultant Ophthalmologist — Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgery · Last reviewed: October 2026

Quick answer: To be a good candidate for LASIK, you should be at least 18 (ideally over 21), have had a stable prescription for at least a year, and have a cornea that is thick enough and normal in shape on corneal tomography. Your eyes should also be healthy, with dry eye controlled. If you do not meet these LASIK requirements, PRK, SMILE Pro or an implantable lens (ICL) may still correct your vision safely.

Key Takeaways

• The main LASIK requirements are age 18 or over, a prescription that has been stable for a year, a healthy cornea of adequate thickness, and healthy eyes overall.
• The refractive screening at your clinic visit is the most important step: it decides whether LASIK is safe for your eyes, and if not, which option is.
• Not qualifying for LASIK rarely means you cannot have vision correction. PRK, SMILE Pro, ICL or, after 50, lens exchange may suit you better.
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, uncontrolled diabetes, active eye disease and an irregular cornea (such as keratoconus) are reasons to wait or choose another option.
• Stop wearing contact lenses before your screening: about 2 weeks for soft lenses and 3–4 weeks for rigid lenses.

What Are the Requirements for LASIK?

The requirements for LASIK are the conditions that make the procedure safe and its results predictable. I check each of them at the refractive screening before recommending any procedure.

How Old Do You Need to Be for LASIK?

You need to be at least 18 years old for LASIK. No laser is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for LASIK in people under 18. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that the ideal age is over 21, when the prescription is more likely to have stopped changing. There is no upper age limit, but after about 45 reading vision starts to change, and after 50 early lens changes may make lens exchange a better long-term option.

How Stable Does Your Prescription Need to Be?

Your prescription should not have changed significantly for at least one year before LASIK. Laser treats the prescription you have on the day of surgery. If myopia is still progressing, it can return after treatment. I compare your current measurements with previous glasses or records, and may repeat measurements if your prescription looks unstable. Read more about when LASIK can be performed.

Is Your Cornea Thick Enough and Healthy Enough for LASIK?

Corneal thickness and shape are the most important LASIK requirements, because LASIK permanently removes corneal tissue. Corneal tomography maps the thickness and the front and back surfaces of the cornea. At Sayyad Eye Center, this is done on the Pentacam in New Cairo and the CSO MS-39 in Mohandeseen.

• Thickness: Enough untouched corneal tissue must remain after the laser to keep the cornea strong. How much is safe is judged for each eye from its thickness, shape and prescription. Surface ablation (PRK), which needs no flap, often leaves more of the cornea’s strength.
• Shape: An irregular or steepening pattern can be a sign of early keratoconus. LASIK can weaken such a cornea and cause it to bulge (ectasia), so laser vision correction is not done. These patients are assessed for keratoconus care instead.
• Surface: Dry eye, scarring or a corneal infection are treated before any decision is made.

What Prescriptions Can LASIK Correct?

LASIK corrects nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism within a safe range. That range depends on your corneal thickness and shape, not on the prescription alone.

• High myopia: For myopia above about −10 D, I usually prefer an implantable contact lens (ICL) over laser, because laser would remove too much tissue.
• Hyperopia: Farsightedness can be treated with laser, but results are less predictable than for myopia, and a second treatment is needed more often.
• Presbyopia (reading glasses): Standard LASIK does not treat age-related near vision loss. Presbyond, a blended-vision laser treatment, may suit some patients over 40.
• Over 50 with high prescriptions: Refractive lens exchange may be the better option, as it also prevents a cataract later.

Which Health Conditions Affect LASIK Eligibility?

Some health conditions affect healing or make the prescription unstable. According to the FDA, conditions such as autoimmune disease, immune deficiency and diabetes, and medications such as steroids and retinoic acid, can affect healing after refractive surgery.

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Hormones can change your prescription. I wait until at least 1–3 months after breastfeeding ends.
• Diabetes: Well-controlled diabetes without diabetic eye disease is usually not a barrier. Uncontrolled diabetes is.
• Dry eye: Mild dry eye is treated before surgery. Severe dry eye may make SMILE Pro, PRK or no surgery the better choice.
• Other eye conditions: Glaucoma, cataract, a history of herpes eye infection or retinal disease need individual assessment.

Do Your Job or Sports Affect Which Procedure Is Safest?

Yes. If you play contact sports such as boxing or martial arts, a procedure without a flap, such as PRK or SMILE Pro, is often safer than LASIK. If you are applying to a military or police academy, rules about refractive surgery differ and change over time. Check the current rule directly with the academy before booking any procedure.

What Happens at the Refractive Screening?

The refractive screening is a full assessment that decides whether you meet the requirements for LASIK. It usually includes:

• Measurement of your prescription, with and without dilating drops
• Corneal tomography to measure corneal thickness and shape
• Pupil size, eye pressure and a tear-film assessment
• A retinal examination, with OCT imaging when needed
• Anterior chamber depth if an ICL is being considered (I use about 2.8 mm as the minimum)

Before your screening: stop wearing contact lenses, because they temporarily change the shape of the cornea. The FDA advises about 2 weeks for soft lenses, at least 3 weeks for toric soft or rigid gas-permeable lenses, and at least 4 weeks for hard lenses.

“I tell every patient that the most important part of the process happens during the refractive screening at your clinic visit. If your eyes are not safe for corneal refractive surgery, the right answer is to find another alternative, such as an ICL or lens exchange. And sometimes, not having surgery is the best option.”

What Are the Options If You Do Not Meet the LASIK Requirements?

If you do not meet the requirements for LASIK, another procedure is often safe for your eyes. The right choice depends on why LASIK is not suitable.

What Results Can You Expect If You Meet the Requirements?

Most patients who meet the LASIK requirements see well without glasses after surgery. According to the AAO, about 9 out of 10 people who have LASIK end up with vision between 20/20 and 20/40 without glasses or contact lenses. Results cannot be guaranteed, and some patients still need glasses for certain tasks.

A small number of patients need a second treatment (enhancement). In my practice, this is usually under 3% for low myopia, up to about 10% for high myopia and 10–20% for hyperopia. An enhancement within the first year carries no additional surgical fee when it is medically indicated. Read more about LASIK safety, LASIK risks and complications and recovery after LASIK.

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

See the LASIK price guide.

What Patients Say (Google Reviews)

I had Femto-LASIK. The experience began with the examination, until it was decided whether I could have the operation or not. Thank God, the decision was made to have the operation with Dr. Fouad El Sayyad. It was a very, very, very good experience. Thank you, Doctor, and the whole team for the excellent care, even after the operation.

Google review · Sayyad Eye Center, Mohandeseen · July 2026 · translated from Arabic

Dr. Fouad is very professional, honest, and caring. He explained everything about the procedure clearly and transparently, which made me feel comfortable and confident.

Google review · Sayyad Eye Center, New Cairo · October 2026

Where Does Dr. Fouad El Sayyad See Patients?

• Sayyad Eye Center, Mohandeseen: 3A Gameat El Dowal El Arabeya St., Sphinx Square.
• Sayyad Eye Center, New Cairo: Medical Park 2, opposite New Cairo Court.
• ProVision Eye Center: Eterna Healthcare City, Mivida, Road 90, New Cairo (refractive surgery only).

To book an appointment with Dr. Fouad El Sayyad, call or WhatsApp 01000088168.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age for LASIK?

The minimum age for LASIK is 18, and no laser is FDA-approved for LASIK under that age. The ideal age is over 21, when the prescription is more likely to be stable. There is no upper age limit, but after 50 lens exchange is often the better long-term choice.

What corneal thickness do you need for LASIK?

There is no single number that applies to everyone. The amount of tissue removed depends on your prescription, and the amount that must stay untouched depends on the thickness and shape of your cornea. I judge this for each eye at the refractive screening. If the cornea is too thin for LASIK, PRK, SMILE Pro or an ICL may be safer.

Can I have LASIK if I have astigmatism?

Yes. LASIK corrects astigmatism together with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Very high or irregular astigmatism needs careful assessment, because an irregular cornea can be a sign of keratoconus, which is a reason not to have laser vision correction.

Can I have LASIK if I have diabetes?

Often yes, if your diabetes is well controlled and you have no diabetic eye disease. Uncontrolled blood sugar can change your prescription and slow healing, so surgery is delayed until it is stable. Your retina is checked at the screening.

Can I have LASIK while pregnant or breastfeeding?

No. Hormonal changes can temporarily change your prescription and affect healing. I recommend waiting at least 1–3 months after breastfeeding ends before measurements and surgery.

Can I have LASIK if I have dry eyes?

Mild dry eye is common and is usually treated before surgery. Because LASIK can make dryness worse for a few months, more significant dry eye may make SMILE Pro or PRK a better choice, and severe dry eye may rule out laser altogether.

How long should I stop wearing contact lenses before LASIK?

Contact lenses change the shape of the cornea, so stop wearing them before your screening. The FDA advises about 2 weeks for soft lenses, at least 3 weeks for toric soft or rigid gas-permeable lenses, and at least 4 weeks for hard lenses.

What happens if I am not a candidate for LASIK?

You may still be a candidate for another procedure. PRK and SMILE Pro suit some thinner corneas, an ICL suits very high prescriptions, and lens exchange suits many patients over 50. If no option is safe, I will advise you to stay with glasses or contact lenses.

This article is for general education and does not replace an eye examination. Treatment decisions depend on your own eye assessment.

References

• American Academy of Ophthalmology — LASIK: Laser Eye Surgery
• American Academy of Ophthalmology — Refractive Errors Preferred Practice Pattern (2022, updated 2025)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration — When Is LASIK Not for Me?
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration — What Should I Expect Before, During, and After Surgery?
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration — What Are Phakic Lenses?
• EyeWiki (AAO) — Phakic Intraocular Lenses