Getting LASIK: Will Your Laser Vision Correction Stand The Test Of Time?

Getting LASIK vision correction can be life changing. As you research the LASIK process, it's likely that you'll come across some stories of people who had LASIK and ended up needing further vision correction years later.

The idea that LASIK is not permanent is a common misconception. When you have a LASIK procedure on your eyes, the prescription that you have on the day of the procedure is permanently corrected. As the laser used during the procedure reshapes the cornea, your nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism are completely changed and corrected, leaving you with lasting improved vision.

Since the imperfections of the cornea that caused a lack of clear vision are permanently corrected, it's not possible for vision to regress after having a LASIK procedure. Sometimes, a person who has had LASIK in the past does find that they need vision correction years down the line. This isn't because their LASIK procedure has failed - it's because their nearsightedness or farsightedness has gotten worse over time, and has gone beyond the level that existed when they had their LASIK procedure.

It's completely possible for your eyes to change over the course of your life, and just like you wouldn't expect one pair of glasses to last for your entire lifetime, it's not reasonable to expect that your eyes will never change after your LASIK procedure.



One of the reasons that the myth of non-permanent LASIK is so pervasive is likely due to presbyopia. Most people experience trouble seeing objects that are close, and need reading glasses. This has nothing to do with a previous LASIK procedure. Presbyopia occurs when the lens behind the cornea (not the cornea itself) loses the ability to focus on close objects.

Most people in their mid-forties or older need reading glasses, and this is true whether they've had a vision correction procedure or not. Even people who have never needed glasses before will likely find that they need reading glasses as they get older.

If your vision changes significantly after your LASIK procedure (and is not related to presbyopia), you may choose to have a LASIK enhancement done. This procedure is fairly rare, as fewer than 10% of people who have had a LASIK procedure choose to undergo LASIK enhancement by the ten-year mark after their procedure. If you're considering LASIK, talk with your surgeon about how they handle LASIK enhancements if you're not satisfied with your vision years after your procedure is completed.

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