Is LASIK Eye Surgery Safe for Children?
June 29th, 2010San Diego, CA June 23, 2010 – Until the invention of the contact lens, eyeglasses were the only way your eye sight could be corrected. Now, since the mainstream introduction of LASIK eye surgery, millions have undergone the procedure because of its relative effectiveness and safety. However, with the increasing popularity of LASIK eye surgery come some important questions being asked to adults regarding their children. The main concern being wether or not it is safe for children to undergo LASIK eye surgery to avoid glasses.
The LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) process replaces your eyes misshaped lens with a perfect artificial lens. It is recommended that a candidate for LASIK eye surgery should be at least 18 and 21 years old. Ever since the introduction of LASIK eye surgery, people have been inquiring about what benefits this procedure may have for children. This has been a debatable and somewhat controversial topic and has important factors to consider before making a decision regarding a procedure.
A San Diego LASIK eye surgery specialist, Lisa Ross, advised that unless a child has extreme vision problems, a surgeon will not recommend LASIK eye surgery. The reason for this is that a child’s eyes do not completely develop until around the eighteen year. There are several reasons the LASIK eye surgery is stipulated for older patients, because a child would be restless and sedation would be necessary. The surgery is performed while the patient was awake, and older patients would be able to control their movements, and remain still.
Although there is not a significant amount of data on the topic, there is little evidence to support the claim that LASIK eye surgery is safe for young children. A child’s eyes are constantly changing through the development process as they age, and are typically not nearly complete developing until the child is at least 18 years old and can sometimes take even longer. The developmental process of the eye will vary slightly from person to person but it is more advisable for those over the age of 21 to look into LASIK eye surgery.
Age is a factor with LASIK eye surgery. Older individuals are also concerned, as to whether they will be candidates for LASIK eye surgery, further down the road, after the age of forty. As an individual ages they should be concerned that eye problems may develop that cannot be corrected with LASIK eye surgery. For example, when the eyes lens cannot focus due to its inflexibility, not being able to change its focus between objects that are far or near – this is called “presbyopia.” LASIK eye surgery has no effect on this type of eye condition.
When seeking answers regarding LASIK eye surgery, It’s always recommended to consult with a licensed LASIK professional.
For additional information, contact Lisa Ross:
San Diego LASIK
926 8th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 393-6600
http://www.lasiksandiegoeye.com
