2-minute medical quiz

Am I a candidate for laser eye surgery?

10 questions to assess your profile — LASIK, PRK, SMILE or phakic implant depending on your case.

≈ 2 min
1 / 10

Understanding your result

Ophthalmologist taking a measurement with an examination device
Corneal thickness and the regularity of its surface are measured during the pre-operative assessment; they cannot be filled in from memory.

What this test assesses — and what it cannot

The questionnaire above cross-checks the four parameters that weigh most heavily on the decision: your age, the stability of your prescription, your ocular history and your general health. These are the same items an ophthalmologist reviews at the start of a consultation.

It remains an estimate. Three decisive measurements cannot be recalled from memory: the thickness of your cornea, the regularity of its surface and the quality of your tear film. They are measured in the office, by topography, pachymetry and aberrometry. It is the preoperative assessment that settles the indication, never a questionnaire.

A favourable result therefore means « nothing appears to stand in the way », not « you can be operated on ». An unfavourable result means « one point needs examining », not « the answer is no ».

An unfavourable criterion is not a refusal

The useful distinction is not between eligible and ineligible, but between what waits, what is treated and what redirects.

What waits. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, recent hormone treatment: refraction and tear film change, and preoperative measurements become unreliable. Surgery is postponed, not cancelled. The same logic applies to isotretinoin treatment, or to a prescription that has shifted this year: the assessment is repeated later.

What is treated. Moderate dry eye is managed before surgery. Its treatment is usually part of the pathway rather than an interruption of it.

What redirects. A thin cornea, even early keratoconus, myopia outside the laser’s range: here the criterion does not close off surgery, it changes the technique.

If LASIK is not indicated: the three available routes

This is the most common misunderstanding in consultation. LASIK is one technique among several, not the only way in.

  • Thin cornea, contact sport, occupation exposed to impacts: PRK works at the surface and creates no corneal flap. SMILE, also flap-free, answers some of these situations.
  • Myopia beyond -8 to -10 dioptres: the phakic ICL implant corrects without removing corneal tissue, and remains reversible.
  • Established presbyopia or early cataract: lens surgery with an implant treats both in a single procedure.

The choice is made in consultation, based on your measurements and your daily activities. The fees for each technique are listed on the refractive surgery cost page. The procedure itself takes place in the operating theatre of the Clinique Laser Victor Hugo for laser, or of the Clinique Sainte-Geneviève for the phakic ICL implant and lens surgery.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about eligibility for laser eye surgery

Candidates for laser refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) must meet several criteria: minimum age 18 (ideally 21 and over), correction stable for at least one year, cornea of sufficient thickness, no progressive corneal condition (keratoconus), no uncontrolled autoimmune disease, no ongoing pregnancy or breastfeeding. A complete preoperative assessment (topography, pachymetry, aberrometry) definitively confirms eligibility.

The minimum legal age is 18, but Dr Tourabaly recommends waiting until at least 21 to ensure refractive stability. Before this age, short-sightedness may still progress, reducing the benefit of surgery. Children and adolescents are not candidates except in exceptional cases (severe anisometropia, visual disability). There is no upper age limit as long as the state of the cornea and the lens allow the procedure, often up to 55-60 years for LASIK.

The main absolute contraindications are: keratoconus or suspected progressive keratoconus, a cornea that is too thin (pachymetry below 480-500 µm), severe uncontrolled dry eye, active autoimmune diseases (lupus, unstabilised rheumatoid arthritis), pregnancy and breastfeeding, poorly controlled diabetes with retinopathy, severe immunosuppression. Some contraindications are relative and may point towards PRK or a phakic ICL implant.

Beyond -8 to -10 dioptres, LASIK reaches its limits of corneal safety. For high short-sightedness (up to -18 dioptres), the phakic ICL EVO implant is often a suitable alternative. It is an implantable lens placed between the iris and the natural lens, reversible, preserving the cornea. Dr Tourabaly carries out the complete feasibility assessment: biometry, endothelial cell density, topography, anterior chamber depth.

Yes, temporarily. The hormonal variations of pregnancy and breastfeeding can alter the refraction, the corneal curvature and the quality of the tear film, making preoperative measurements unreliable and the final result unpredictable. It is recommended to wait at least 3 months after the end of breastfeeding before carrying out the preoperative assessment and the procedure.

The ranges generally accepted are: LASIK — short-sightedness up to -10 D, long-sightedness up to +5 D, astigmatism up to -5 D. PRK — short-sightedness up to -8 D, long-sightedness up to +4 D. SMILE — short-sightedness up to -10 D, astigmatism up to -5 D, long-sightedness up to +6 D with VISUMAX 800. Beyond this, the phakic implant takes over. The preoperative assessment adapts these ranges to the individual corneal thickness to help preserve long-term safety.

This article is for information purposes. A personalised ophthalmological opinion remains essential for any treatment decision.