Laser eye surgery provides freedom from glasses and contact lenses for around 100,000 people in the UK every year, and in many cases the effects can be long-lasting or permanent. A safe procedure that can transform your life in seconds, laser eye surgery is uniquely tailored for each individual, which is why it's important to make sure that all patients are suitable for treatment.

Our eyes change shape and size as we grow older, with many people experiencing changed prescriptions into their 20s and beyond. For this reason, laser eye surgery is only offered to patients aged 18 years or older, who have had a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for at least two years. To help ensure that success will be long-lasting, some clinics may also require younger patients to demonstrate the stability of their eyes by providing further prescriptions, reducing the risk of their eyes continuing to change in the years following surgery.

Corrective laser eye surgery can provide a new lease of life for people at many stages of life, whether patients are short-sighted or long-sighted or suffer from a degree of astigmatism. Laser eye surgery is even being developed to help counteract presbyopia, a condition that begins to affect many people in their 40s and 50s who require reading glasses. Although this lens condition is not related to the shape of the cornea, laser eye specialists are developing effective treatments that should help with age-related vision loss in the near future.

Adults of all ages can enjoy the freedom offered by laser eye surgery, as long as their eyes are healthy and their prescription is stable. There is no upper age limit for laser eye surgery, however older patients may require a longer healing process following treatment - something that will be discussed as part of their laser eye consultation.

In-depth laser eye consultations can be carried out at a clinic in your local area, and help to determine whether you would be a suitable candidate for surgery. Using the latest equipment, your consultant can help you decide whether laser eye surgery is right for you, and which treatment can help you achieve your desired result.

If you are aged 18 years or older and your prescription has been stable for at least two years, laser eye surgery might be the perfect solution to help you see clearly in day-to-day life without needing glasses or lenses.