ICL Surgery Age Requirements in Korea

When considering ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) surgery in Korea, age is an important eligibility factor. However, it's not the only consideration — vision stability, eye health, and anatomical suitability also play major roles. Below is a clear guide to help you understand how age fits into the overall assessment.

✅ Minimum Age Requirement

Most sources indicate that you need to be at least 21 years old to be eligible for ICL surgery.

• The official FAQ for the EVO ICL lens notes: “It is indicated for patients who are at least 21 years of age.”
• One Korea-based site lists the candidate criteria as being 21-45 years old with stable vision as a guideline.

So, before age 21, clinics are likely to recommend waiting until your vision has stabilised.

📌 Why Age Matters

• Prescribed power stability: Younger patients may still have changes in prescription (glasses or contact lens strength), which can affect lens power calculations and long-term outcomes.
• Eye development: Although major eye growth usually finishes in late teens, there may still be subtle changes in the early 20s.
• Lens sizing and anatomy: As you age, the eye’s internal structures (like anterior chamber depth) can change, which affects how safely an ICL can be inserted.
• Presbyopia considerations: As you age into your 40s, age-related changes like presbyopia (difficulty focusing on near objects) start to appear, which can influence overall vision goals and the decision to undergo ICL.

🕰️ Upper Age Considerations

While exact upper age limits are not strict, many ICL discussions use around mid-40s as a benchmark for ideal candidacy. For example:

• Some sources list the “eligible age range” for ICL as 21 to 45 years old.
• After your 40s, you may also begin to have lens (cataract) changes, making alternative procedures more appropriate.

That said, eligibility doesn’t stop strictly at 45 — each patient must be evaluated individually based on eye health rather than age alone.

🔍 Key Additional Requirements Alongside Age

In Korea (and elsewhere) the age requirement is paired with other key criteria, such as:

• Stable vision prescription: Typically no significant change for at least 1 year.
• Healthy eye anatomy: Good anterior chamber depth, adequate endothelial cell count, no uncontrolled glaucoma or cataract development.
• Moderate to high myopia (and possibly astigmatism): Many ICL candidates have substantial myopia or other factors making laser correction less ideal.

📝 Summary: What to Keep in Mind

• Minimum age: ~21 years old is widely accepted for ICL.
• Ideal age span: Many clinics reference 21-45 years as the typical range.
• Vision must be stable prior to surgery.
• Age alone isn’t enough — full eye assessment is crucial.
• Older age (40s+) doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but may require further discussion about long-term vision and lens changes.