Am I Suitable for Laser Eye Surgery? Take the 2-Minute Quiz
Before you start: have your latest glasses prescription to hand if you can (contact-lens prescriptions are different). No prescription? Answer "I don't know"; the quiz still works.
Am I suitable for laser eye surgery? You probably are if you are over 18, your glasses prescription has changed by no more than 0.5 dioptres in two years, it is within about −10.00D of short sight, +4.00D of long sight or 6.00D of astigmatism, and your eyes are otherwise healthy (Royal College of Ophthalmologists). This free quiz checks these points in two minutes. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı or Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram makes the final decision after scanning your eyes in Istanbul.
Before you start: have your latest glasses prescription to hand if you can (contact-lens prescriptions are different). No prescription? Answer "I don't know"; the quiz still works.
What your laser eye surgery suitability result means
The quiz puts your answers into one of four results. None of them is a diagnosis: only measurements of your eyes can confirm whether laser is safe for you.
| Your result | What it usually means | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| Likely suitable | Your age, prescription and health match the usual criteria | Send your prescription for a free surgeon review |
| Possibly suitable: needs a closer look | Something (an eye condition, a health condition, an unknown prescription) needs checking | Upload your eye reports so a surgeon can check before you travel |
| Not right now | A temporary reason: under 18, a changing prescription, pregnancy or breastfeeding, some medicines | Wait, then take the quiz again |
| Another treatment may suit you better | A very high prescription, keratoconus or cataract | Ask about implantable lenses, lens replacement or cornea treatment |
What decides whether you are suitable for laser eye surgery?
Five things decide it: your age, a stable prescription, a prescription within the laser range, healthy corneas and good general health. According to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth):
- Age: you must be over 18. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) adds that candidates are ideally over 21, when vision is more likely to have stopped changing.
- Stable prescription: no change greater than 0.5 dioptres in the last two years.
- Prescription range: you are most likely to be suitable with up to −10.00D of short sight (myopia), up to +4.00D of long sight (hyperopia) or up to ±6.00D of astigmatism. Laser can work for higher prescriptions in some people, and some people with lower prescriptions are better served by a lens implant.
- Healthy, thick-enough corneas: the AAO lists thin corneas, corneal scarring and keratoconus among the reasons not to have LASIK.
- General health: conditions that slow healing, such as autoimmune disease or poorly controlled diabetes, can rule laser out.
Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery?
Laser eye surgery is usually not advised, or is postponed, if you have any of the following (AAO, FDA, EyeWiki):
- a prescription that is still changing, or you are pregnant or breastfeeding;
- keratoconus, an irregular corneal shape, corneal scarring or very thin corneas;
- severe dry eye, advanced glaucoma, uveitis, a past herpes infection of the eye, or a cataract affecting your sight;
- uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disease, or you take isotretinoin for acne;
- a sport such as boxing or martial arts, where blows to the face are common (this usually changes the method rather than ruling laser out).
Can you have laser eye surgery with astigmatism? Yes: up to about 6.00D of astigmatism is within the usual range, and laser can correct it at the same time as short or long sight.
Can I have laser eye surgery if I'm over 40 or 50?
Often, yes, but your age changes the best option. From the mid-40s, surgeons often correct one eye for distance and the other for arm's length, so that both eyes together cover more of your range (RCOphth). In the retirement age group, when early cataract is common, lens replacement is often preferred to laser.
What if I'm told I'm not suitable?
A "no" to laser is rarely a "no" to clear vision. The RCOphth says implantable lenses (phakic IOLs such as the ICL) are often a good alternative for younger people whose prescription is outside the laser range, and lens replacement suits many older patients. If your scans show keratoconus or a thin, irregular cornea, Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer (Doç. = Associate Professor), our cornea specialist, reviews your case.
What the examination in Istanbul checks
Your quiz result is only a first filter. Before any treatment, your surgeon measures the shape and thickness of your cornea, your tear film, your pupils and eye pressure, and checks the health of the whole eye. EyeWiki lists an abnormal corneal shape on these scans as a reason not to have LASIK. If you wear contact lenses, leave them out first so your cornea returns to its natural shape: the FDA advises 2 weeks for soft lenses, at least 3 weeks for toric or rigid gas-permeable lenses, and at least 4 weeks for hard lenses.
This quiz is general information, not a medical assessment. It can't measure your eyes or tell whether laser eye surgery is safe for you; only a full examination by an eye surgeon can. If you notice any sudden change in your vision, see a doctor urgently.
Which laser treatment might suit me?
Your surgeon chooses the method after your scans. As a guide:
Compare every method in our guide to laser eye surgery in Turkey, see what laser eye surgery costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and EU (the price includes your examination, surgery, medication, follow-up checks and interpreter; hotel and airport transfers are a separate charge), or browse all eye treatments.
Use our free online consultation to send your quiz answers and upload your prescription or eye reports. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı or Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram, our laser surgeons, will tell you which treatments may suit you, and Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer reviews any cornea questions. You get a reply within {{response time}}.
- LASIK & Femto-LASIK in Istanbul: suits most prescriptions and gives the fastest visual recovery.
- SMILE Pro in Istanbul (VisuMax 800) and ReLEx SMILE in Istanbul: no flap, often chosen by active people.
- PRK / LASEK in Istanbul: surface laser, often recommended for thinner corneas and contact sports.
- No-touch laser (Trans-PRK) in Istanbul: surface laser in one step, with nothing touching the eye except the laser.
Am I suitable for laser eye surgery? Frequently asked questions
The most common reasons are a prescription that is still changing, thin or irregular corneas (including keratoconus), severe dry eye, a cataract, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and health conditions that affect healing, such as poorly controlled diabetes. Many of these are temporary or point to a different treatment rather than none.
The minimum age is 18, and the AAO says candidates are ideally over 21. There is no strict upper age limit, but from the mid-40s blended-vision laser or lens replacement often suits better.
The RCOphth gives the usual range as up to −10.00D of short sight, +4.00D of long sight and ±6.00D of astigmatism. Some people outside this range can still have laser; others are better treated with an implantable lens.
Sometimes. Surgeons leave enough untouched cornea behind, at least 250 microns under a LASIK flap according to EyeWiki, so thin corneas often point to surface laser (PRK) or an implantable lens instead.
Often, yes, once the dryness is treated. The RCOphth says many contact-lens wearers are wrongly told they have dry eyes and cannot have laser. Severe dry eye is a reason to wait or choose another option.
Possibly, if it is well controlled and your eyes are healthy. The AAO lists poorly controlled diabetes as a reason not to have LASIK, so bring your latest results and eye reports to your consultation.
No. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can change your prescription, so the FDA and EyeWiki advise waiting until afterwards.
Not to replace glasses or contact lenses. The RCOphth says it is not an NHS procedure and not covered by private health insurance.
Sources for the facts on this page
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, LASIK — Laser Eye Surgery: 18 or older, ideally over 21; prescription not changed significantly in the past year; corneas thick and healthy; who should not have LASIK (unstable prescription, prescription beyond treatable levels, severe dry eye, thin corneas, corneal scarring or disease, keratoconus, advanced glaucoma, cataract affecting vision, certain eye infections, poorly controlled diabetes). https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik
- US Food and Drug Administration, When is LASIK not for me?: no lasers approved for LASIK under 18; refractive instability (under 25, hormonal changes from diabetes, pregnancy or breastfeeding, medicines); autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency, diabetes and steroids affecting healing; contact sports (boxing, wrestling, martial arts); some jobs prohibit refractive procedures; blepharitis, large pupils, thin corneas, previous refractive surgery, dry eye, herpes, glaucoma, uveitis, eye injury, keratoconus. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/when-lasik-not-me
- US Food and Drug Administration, What should I expect before, during, and after surgery?: stop soft lenses 2 weeks, toric soft or RGP at least 3 weeks, hard lenses at least 4 weeks before the initial evaluation; tell your doctor about all medical and eye conditions and medicines. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-should-i-expect-during-and-after-surgery
- EyeWiki (American Academy of Ophthalmology), Preoperative Evaluation for LASIK Surgery: surgery typically deferred until after 21; refraction stable 1–2 years; residual stromal bed at least 250 µm (some prefer 300 µm); abnormal topography and percent tissue altered as ectasia risk factors; contraindications incl. keratoconus, unstable refraction, uncontrolled dry eye, uncontrolled autoimmune disease, diabetes or glaucoma, pregnancy or lactation, isotretinoin, herpes keratitis; trauma risk may favour surface ablation or SMILE. https://eyewiki.org/Preoperative_Evaluation_for_LASIK_Surgery
- NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery: not usually offered on the NHS; suitability depends on age and eye health. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/laser-eye-surgery-and-lens-surgery/
Want a surgeon's opinion on your eyes?
Send us your quiz answers and your prescription, and one of our surgeons will tell you honestly whether laser, or another treatment, may suit you. There is no obligation.
3 eye surgeons
Your case is reviewed by a named surgeon, not a salesperson. Reply within {{response time}}.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı
Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer
Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram