Yes, you can often have LASIK again after 20 years, as repeat procedures (enhancements) are common for vision changes due to aging or regression, but eligibility depends on sufficient corneal thickness, overall eye health (no cataracts), and the reason for vision loss, requiring a detailed exam by an ophthalmologist. Modern technology allows for these "touch-ups," often by lifting the original flap or using surface treatments like LASEK, to fine-tune vision.
In an interview that broke the internet (literally—over 1.3 million viewers crashed YouTube), Taylor didn't just announce her new album “The Life of a Showgirl.” She casually credited LASIK with helping her fully experience the emotional connections that made her tour so special.
LASIK enhancement surgery is generally as safe as initial LASIK when performed by an experienced surgeon on eyes that are good candidates. However, the safety of a second procedure depends on how much corneal tissue remains after your first surgery and the overall health of your eyes.
In this way, LASIK is a permanent treatment for your prescription during surgery. However, while the corneal reshaping is permanent, your eyes will continue to age. This means that other age-related vision changes may still occur later in life, just like they would have even if you'd never had LASIK.
If you don't think you could see the 20/20 letters on a vision chart even in daylight a month after your laser vision correction, it's almost always due to one of two things: dryness of the surface of your eyes, or residual prescription (nearsightedness and/or astigmatism).
This is called LASIK regression. It can happen months or even years after your initial LASIK surgery. It's not the same as normal aging changes or side effects like dry eye or glare—it's a gradual return of some of your refractive errors, which can cause blurry vision.
Overcorrection happens when the laser treatment removes slightly more or slightly less tissue than intended, shifting the focal point past the ideal target. This shift creates the sensation that your vision is “too strong” or that your prescription has flipped slightly in the opposite direction.
You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
Most patients can expect to maintain their corrected vision for 10–20 years post-LASIK. If vision changes significantly after LASIK, enhancements or touch-up procedures may be an option. These adjustments are usually minor and are performed years after the initial surgery to maintain clear vision.
Refractive Lens and Cataract Surgery with Premium Lens Implants. In most instances, the best surgical vision correction option for individuals who are 50 years old or older is refractive lens surgery or cataract surgery with premium intraocular lens implants (IOLs).
Testing in the LASIK evaluation process is vital, and without proper testing, a patient cannot be adequately screened.
With high power lasers, the damage can occur in less time than a quarter of a second. Symptoms of a laser burn in the eye include a headache shortly after exposure, excessive watering of the eyes, and sudden appearance of floaters in your vision.
LASIK touch-ups after 20 years are possible and can be effective, but other options become available as the eyes begin to age. One such option is surgery to replace cataracts with Refractive Lens Exchange.
Nicole Kidman's results after LASIK
The procedure gave Kidman perfect 20/20 eyesight. She was amazed by how long she had lived with poor vision: “I can't believe I spent so many years blurry… Now I notice if people are watching me, but I also smile right back if someone waves, which helps”.
Brad Pitt
As one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men, actor Brad Pitt depends on his vision to perform. To enhance his visual acuity, Pitt underwent LASIK surgery.
The top 3 rarest eye colors are typically considered red/violet, green, and gray, with red/violet often cited as the absolute rarest (less than 1%) due to albinism, followed by green (around 2%) and gray (around 3%), though some sources place heterochromia (different colored eyes) as rarest, also under 1%. These rare colors stem from extremely low melanin levels or unique light scattering in the iris.
We ask that you avoid wearing contact lenses and make-up prior to LASIK surgery. To avoid potential complications, we request patients wearing soft contact lenses discontinue their contacts 2 weeks prior to surgery, while those wearing hard or gas permeable contacts discontinue them 3 weeks prior.
3-6 months after LASIK
Your eyes will continue to heal, and your vision will improve and stabilize in the months after LASIK vision correction. By the six-month mark, most patients have experienced their final visual outcomes.
The Best Age to Get LASIK
Once you are in your mid-twenties and your prescription is stable for at least two years, chances are you'll be more ready to undergo the procedure. The most popular time to have LASIK is between the ages of 35 and 40.
With pricing starting at $490 per eye ◊ and flexible financing options, you can enjoy freedom without breaking the bank.
No, a -7 prescription doesn't automatically mean someone is legally blind; legal blindness depends on your best-corrected vision (with glasses/contacts), not the prescription number itself, meaning you're legally blind if you have 20/200 vision or worse in your better eye even with correction, or a very narrow visual field. While -7 indicates severe nearsightedness, it's often correctable to normal vision, so you'd only be legally blind if after correction, your vision remains at or below 20/200 or you have significant peripheral vision loss.
The LASIK Eye Surgery Recovery Process
The immediate recovery period for LASIK generally lasts six to 12 hours, but it varies by patient, depending on several factors. Most patients see clearly within 24 hours after vision correction surgery, but others take two to five days to recover.
Typically, eye doctors will set their limits to +6 for farsightedness, -12 for nearsightedness, and 6 diopters for astigmatism. However, not all laser strengths are the same, so there's some wiggle room. Plus, someone with a -12 prescription might be approved for LASIK while someone with a -9 prescription isn't.
Generally, there is no cap or specific number of times a person can undergo LASIK eye surgery. The main factor in determining if you are a LASIK enhancement candidate typically depends on the health of your eyes, the stability of your vision, and the reason for considering a second procedure.
The procedure can be done in as fast as 10 to 15 minutes per eye, with the excimer laser ablation treatment lasting only a few seconds. LASIK is painless as the doctors use numbing eye drops.