[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/who-is-not-suitable-for-laser-eye-surgery\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/who-is-not-suitable-for-laser-eye-surgery\/","headline":"Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery?","name":"Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery?","description":"Laser eye surgery isn't for everyone. Wondering if you're a good candidate? Read our latest blog to find out who might not be suitable\u2014and why","datePublished":"2025-04-22","dateModified":"2026-04-28","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/author\/myeyeclinic\/#Person","name":"My Eye Clinic","url":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/author\/myeyeclinic\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8387103c2072d667018bc0a76890e72a3a28b15f0cb4d824dadcb29a5e8e13d3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8387103c2072d667018bc0a76890e72a3a28b15f0cb4d824dadcb29a5e8e13d3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"My Eye Clinic Gosforth","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Retina-Sticky-Header-Logo-v2-166x120-Rob-Boyce-My-Eye-Clinic-Newcastle.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Retina-Sticky-Header-Logo-v2-166x120-Rob-Boyce-My-Eye-Clinic-Newcastle.jpg","width":167,"height":122}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Who-is-not-suitable-for-laser-eye-surgery-Rob-Boyce-My-Eye-Clinic-Newcastle.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Who-is-not-suitable-for-laser-eye-surgery-Rob-Boyce-My-Eye-Clinic-Newcastle.jpg","height":534,"width":950},"url":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/who-is-not-suitable-for-laser-eye-surgery\/","about":["Laser Eye Surgery"],"wordCount":417,"articleBody":"Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery?Laser eye surgery can be life-changing. But it\u2019s not for everyone.At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, we take safety seriously. That\u2019s why we carefully assess every patient before we recommend any procedure. Sometimes, the safest thing to do is say no.In this post, we\u2019ll explain:Who may not be suitable for laser eye surgeryWhy it mattersWhat your options might be if you\u2019re not a candidateFirst, what does \u201csuitable\u201d mean?Suitability means your eyes are healthy, stable, and within the right range for laser correction. It also means the procedure is likely to give you good results without causing harm.That\u2019s why we look at the whole picture before offering LASIK, LASEK, or TransPRK.You might not be suitable if...1. Your prescription is still changingIf your vision has changed a lot in the past year or two, we\u2019ll recommend waiting. Surgery works best when your prescription is stable.2. You have irregular or thin corneasThe laser removes a small amount of corneal tissue, reshaping the cornea. If your corneas are too thin or misshapen, it may not be safe.3. You have eye health conditionsConditions like:KeratoconusGlaucomaSevere dry eyesCertain retinal problems4. You have general health conditionsAutoimmune diseases, uncontrolled diabetes, or conditions that affect healing can also affect your suitability. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can temporarily change your vision, so we\u2019d usually recommend waiting.5. You\u2019re under 21\u00a0The eyes are still changing in younger people. We recommend that you wait until you have a stable prescription and your eyes have fully developed6. You have unrealistic expectationsLaser eye surgery can help you see clearly without glasses. But it won\u2019t turn you into a superhero. Some people may still need reading glasses as they get older.Knowing what the procedure can\u2014and can\u2019t\u2014do is important.So what happens if you\u2019re not suitable?First of all, it\u2019s not the end of the road.Other options include:Lens replacement surgery (great for people over 50)Implantable contact lenses (for high prescriptions)How do we decide?We carry out a detailed suitability assessment, which includes:3D mapping of your corneaChecking your eye healthReviewing your lifestyle and vision goalsWe only recommend laser eye surgery if we\u2019re confident it\u2019s safe and effective for you.Still curious if you might be suitable?Take the self-test. Quick, free, and the best way to learn"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery?","item":"https:\/\/www.myeyeclinicgosforth.com\/who-is-not-suitable-for-laser-eye-surgery\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]