Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK? 2026 Candidacy Requirements Explained
Updated 2026-06-29
Good LASIK candidates are at least 18 years old (most surgeons prefer 21), have had a stable prescription for one to two years, have adequate corneal thickness for flap creation, and have no significant dry eye or corneal disease. An in-person evaluation with corneal mapping, pachymetry, and tear-film testing is the only reliable way to confirm candidacy. An online quiz or phone screening is not a substitute.
Core candidacy criteria in 2026
- Age: most surgeons require patients to be at least 18, and many prefer 21, to allow the prescription to stabilize. There is no firm upper age limit, but older patients should discuss how LASIK interacts with presbyopia, the near-vision changes that come with age.
- Stable prescription: your prescription should not have changed by more than 0.50 diopters in the past one to two years. A prescription still shifting will continue to shift after surgery, reducing the long-term benefit.
- Prescription range: LASIK can correct nearsightedness up to roughly negative 12 diopters, farsightedness up to about positive 6 diopters, and astigmatism up to about 6 diopters, though most surgeons operate conservatively within those outer limits.
- Adequate corneal thickness: creating the LASIK flap and ablating tissue requires sufficient corneal volume. Surgeons measure with pachymetry and corneal topography. If your corneas are too thin for a safe flap, PRK is typically recommended instead.
- Pupil size: very large pupils in low light can increase the risk of halos and glare. Modern laser platforms have larger treatment zones than earlier generations, but pupil size is still assessed during a proper pre-op workup.
- Dry eye status: mild dry eye can often be managed before and after LASIK. Moderate to severe dry eye may worsen with surgery. Tear production and tear-film quality are both tested during a thorough evaluation.
Conditions that may disqualify you
Keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea progressively thins and bulges, is a contraindication for LASIK because operating on an already weakened cornea can accelerate the problem. Subclinical keratoconus detectable only on topography is an equally important disqualifier. Autoimmune conditions that affect healing, uncontrolled diabetes, and medications that impair wound healing may also disqualify a candidate. Pregnancy and nursing are temporary exclusions because hormonal changes can shift the prescription.
What happens during a candidacy evaluation
A thorough pre-op evaluation takes one to two hours and includes corneal topography, pachymetry, pupil dilation, wavefront analysis, and a detailed refraction. The surgeon reviews all of these together, not any single measurement in isolation. Most practices charge $50 to $200 for the evaluation and apply it toward the surgery cost if you proceed. The visit is also your opportunity to ask about the surgeon's experience, the laser platform, and the enhancement policy.
Things to know about alternatives
PRK produces equivalent long-term visual outcomes and suits patients with thinner corneas or elevated dry-eye risk. Recovery takes one to two weeks rather than one to two days, but final vision quality is the same. SMILE is flapless and carries a lower post-operative dry-eye risk, though it has a narrower prescription range and is not available for farsightedness. ICL, or implantable collamer lens, is a surgical alternative for patients too nearsighted for surface ablation or whose corneas are too thin for any laser procedure. Each option has its own cost and candidacy requirements. A surgeon who evaluates you thoroughly will recommend the best fit for your anatomy.
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Related guides
- See the price tiers
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- Which procedure costs less
- How to pay for LASIK
- What healing looks like
- What the research shows
- Browse the full guide
FAQs
Can I get LASIK if I have astigmatism? Yes. Both LASIK and PRK treat astigmatism effectively across most prescription ranges. Disclose your full prescription, including the astigmatism component, so your surgeon can select the right technology for your correction needs.
I am over 40. Is LASIK still worth it? LASIK corrects distance vision at any age, but presbyopia means most people over 40 will still need reading glasses for near tasks afterward. Some surgeons offer monovision LASIK, correcting one eye for distance and one for near, which can reduce reading-glass dependence but does not eliminate it.
Does wearing contacts affect candidacy testing? Yes. Soft contacts temporarily alter the shape of your cornea. Most surgeons ask you to stop wearing soft contacts for two weeks before the evaluation and rigid gas-permeable lenses for four to six weeks, to get accurate measurements.
Bottom line
The only reliable way to confirm LASIK candidacy is a full diagnostic evaluation with a licensed ophthalmologist. Corneal thickness, prescription stability, and tear-film health all determine not just whether you qualify but which procedure gives you the safest result. Schedule a thorough pre-op workup before any financial commitment. A brief phone screening or online quiz is not a substitute.