Can Kids Undergo Laser Eye Surgery?

The most common and most successful eye correction treatment in adults today is LASIK eye surgery. Some other parents would ask if these procedures can also be fit for their kids or teenagers who have vision problems.

In the article below, we shall focus on the safety of LASIK in people with younger ages, possible risks and complications, other treatment options available, and all that a parent should consider before making the decision.

What is LASIK Surgery?

LASIK is short for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, another most frequently performed eye surgery to correct the refractive error of vision, including myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, and astigmatism. In this procedure, the ophthalmologist reshapes the cornea with a specialized laser to allow light to focus properly on the retina for clearer vision.

The actual treatment, which uses numbing eye drops, is usually painless and takes approximately 15 minutes for each eye. Most people see a remarkable improvement in their vision within one or two days.

Key benefits associated with LASIK surgery include the following:

• Less dependence on glasses or contact lenses

• The high success rate of vision correction.

• Low risk of major complications

• Quick recovery, with the majority of patients returning to normal activities within a few days.

• Long-term results, with no further treatment often needed for many years from many treatments

Lasik for children and teenagers?

Although LASIK surgery is considered very safe for grownups, it is generally not recommended for children and teenagers. Why?

1. FDA Age Restrictions

The FDA has thus approved LASIK only for patients 18 years and older. The reason is that the younger one gets, the more developmental changes one is going through within the body at that point in life, which, for now, includes even one’s vision. Children and teenagers usually have unstable prescriptions, as these still keep changing through their developing eyes and the maturation process generally. Performing LASIK on peeping eyes that are yet changing may result in less effective or temporary results.

2.Stability of Vision

The stability of a patient’s prescription is a major determinant of their suitability for laser eye surgery (LASIK). Long-term success with LASIK is contingent upon the patient’s vision stabilizing and not altering for a minimum of one to two years following the procedure. This is more likely to happen in adults, while children and teenagers are more likely to have fluctuating vision.

Because LASIK needs to be done after the vision has stabilized, having the procedure beforehand may require additional corrective procedures, later on, to adjust to changes.

3. Risks and Complications of Performing LASIK in Younger Patients

Although age is a factor, LASIK is a very safe and effective procedure, and certain risks and possible complications have to be considered. These include:

• Dry Eyes: Some patients, after the LASIK operation, are faced with symptoms of dry eye. With time, it improves quite rapidly.

• Glare and Halos: A few may notice that there is more glare or that lights have a halo around them, particularly when they are driving at night after the surgery.

• Undercorrection or Overcorrection: LASIK may result in a patient attaining undercorrected or overcorrected vision, which may require further intervention or adjustments.

In younger patients, there is a higher chance of additional surgeries to maintain or further improve the initial results, as their vision may continue to change throughout their development post-surgery.

Alternatives to LASIK for Children and Teenagers

For children and teenagers who are not good candidates for the LASIK procedure, they can consider other methods of vision correction, which include:

Glasses

Glasses are the most common and pain-free correction of a refractive error in children and adolescents. Glasses easily correct the vision and are non-invasive, with the added advantage of being essentially easy to change as your prescription changes.

Contact Lenses

Contact Lenses Another option for correcting eyesight involves lenses. They can thus be an excellent choice of vision correction for those individuals who do not prefer the use of spectacles and for those who engage in sports and other activities where the use of glasses is not convenient. To avoid eye infections, however, cleanliness and attention to detail are crucial when wearing these contact lenses.

Orthokeratology

The way this is done in orthokeratology is by using a highly specifically made contact lens that reshapes the cornea while the wearer is asleep. Thus, these can be worn at night to give clear vision during the day without recourse to glasses or contacts. Non-surgical in nature, it can be an excellent option, majorly for children and teenagers with mild to moderate nearsightedness.

When to Consider LASIK for Vision Correction?

Since LASIK is generally not advised for children and teenagers, it works great for adults after their vision has been regulated. For people over the age of 18, LASIK holds the promise of extreme improvement in their sight sans glasses or contact lenses. In this regard, parents are supposed to closely monitor their child’s vision and consult an eye care professional to determine whether they can be a future candidate for LASIK or if, in the meantime, there is some other alternative treatment method available for them.

Final Thoughts

In the end, despite the fact that LASIK is a very safe and effective procedure for adults, it is not suitable for children or teenagers because of continuous changes in vision and age-related limits from the FDA. Glass, contact lenses, and Ortho-K are far more accurate and easy, non-invasive ways to fix the vision for such young individuals. Suppose your child or teenager has problems with poor vision. In that case, the best thing to do is to immediately consult an eye care professional who can recommend proper treatment options depending on the child’s needs, taking into consideration his eye health. As your child reaches adulthood and their prescription stabilizes, LASIK may also become a more viable option for long-term vision correction. Up until that time, discussing alternatives with a qualified ophthalmologist will be of critical importance in assuring the most appropriate care for your child’s vision needs.