With modern LASIK, the enhancement rate is 1-2 percent in the first 12 months and then about 1 percent a year after that as patients' eyes can change with time. So, for example, 10 years after LASIK, approximately 10 percent of patients may require an enhancement procedure to maintain their excellent vision.
We know that when patients return unhappy with their vision about 10 years after a LASIK procedure, the chief suspects are presbyopia and cataract.
For most patients, the results of LASIK will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need an enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.
The short answer is “no”. LASIK is a permanent procedure. One of the most common myths about LASIK is that the results “wear off”. A lot of people assume they will have to undergo multiple procedures to maintain the results.
If a second procedure has been deemed necessary, another flap will be created. Most surgeons won't perform a second LASIK procedure unless it's 5-10 years after LASIK.
What many don't realize is that LASIK surgery doesn't protect against age-related eye conditions or remove certain refractive errors caused by the thickness of the cornea. For this reason, even individuals who have had successful LASIK surgery may need glasses.
Generally, there is no cap or specific number of times a person can undergo LASIK surgery.
In general, there is no limit on how many LASIK procedures you can get in your lifetime. Several factors affect whether or not you are a good candidate for enhancement surgery. The thickness of the cornea is one of the main determinations regarding the safety of multiple LASIK surgeries.
LASIK: 25-40
Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate.
Yes, it is possible to get LASIK twice. However, it is extremely uncommon to need the surgery twice, and the majority of individuals who undergo LASIK enjoy lasting improved vision after just one procedure.
In most cases, LASIK has the potential to provide 20/20 vision. However, some people – including those who have higher prescriptions – may not achieve this level of visual acuity after laser surgery. If your vision is blurred beyond a certain point, you may still need a prescription for glasses or contacts.
Visual Irregularities: Some LASIK patients report seeing a number of visual irregularities for months or years after the surgery. These irregularities can include blurry vision, the appearance of ghosts or other artifacts, halos and starbursts around lights, and a significant loss of the ability to see details.
Could my vision change after Lasik? As we mentioned above, the laser makes permanent changes to the shape of the cornea. This cannot be reversed; however, sometimes vision can continue to change as a person ages. In this case, you may notice changes to your vision over the years even if you've undergone Lasik surgery.
LASIK doesn't cause or prevent an eye disease, nor does it hinder something in the future from being treated.
As a result, astigmatism is corrected and vision is improved. However, it is possible for astigmatism to return after LASIK surgery, so it is important to have regular checkups with an ophthalmologist.
LASIK enhancement is often requested five to ten years after the initial procedure. Your LASIK surgeon will examine your eyes before a LASIK touch up to ensure a laser eye surgery enhancement is necessary.
LASIK and other procedures also can sometimes cause irregular astigmatism, with accompanying blurred and/or distorted vision. Fortunately, for most people who have a less-than-perfect vision after refractive surgery, these problems are quite mild and usually tolerable.
The change of curvature of the cornea helps in reducing the eye power. In majority of people after Lasik the effect is permanent. However a small minority of people may notice blurring of vision in future due to some new eye power. This is either due to minor regression or natural changes occurring in the eye.
The bottom line? The “lifetime guarantee” typically isn't worth the paper it's written on. Many patients who had their initial procedure with a center offering a “lifetime guarantee” end up going to another surgeon for their enhancement and pay full price for this second procedure.
Recurrence of myopia after myopic LASIK reduces the outcome of the procedure. Important causes include post-LASIK ectasia, regression of myopia, accommodative strain, and lens or axial length changes.
The sun's brightness could cause discomfort after LASIK and while you recover. Also, after LASIK, going outside without sunglasses could cause your vision to become cloudy. When this happens, it's called a corneal haze.
Once the full healing process after Eye LASIK surgery has been completed, your optimum visual acuity will be reached. After 3 to 6 months your eyesight will have reached its optimum benefit from the surgery. In many cases 20/20 vision is achieved, but some patients find they need reading glasses for close work.
Needing Glasses After LASIK
Studies have found that about 95 percent of patients have 20/40 vision or better following LASIK surgery. About 80 percent of patients experience 20/20 vision or better. LASIK is a permanent procedure that irreversibly changes the shape of your cornea.