LASIK, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a common surgical procedure that uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, to improve how light focuses on the retina. It is popular for reducing or eliminating the need for glasses and contact lenses. Many considering LASIK inquire about how long its effects last. This article clarifies the duration of LASIK’s benefits and factors influencing long-term visual outcomes.
The Enduring Nature of LASIK Correction
The change made to the eye during LASIK is permanent. LASIK works by precisely reshaping the cornea, the transparent outer layer of the eye. This alteration corrects refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Once reshaped, the corneal tissue does not grow back, making the correction lasting.
While the corneal reshaping is permanent, the eye undergoes natural changes over a lifetime. Subsequent vision changes are typically due to factors unrelated to the LASIK procedure.
Factors Affecting Long-Term Visual Acuity
While LASIK’s corneal reshaping is permanent, vision can still change over time due to natural biological processes and other eye conditions. A common age-related change is presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs when the eye’s natural lens loses its flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close-up objects, and LASIK does not prevent its development.
Another age-related condition that can affect vision after LASIK is the formation of cataracts. Cataracts involve the clouding of the eye’s natural lens and are a normal part of the aging process. Additionally, the underlying refractive error corrected by LASIK, such as myopia (nearsightedness) or astigmatism, might continue to progress naturally. This progression is more frequently observed in younger patients whose prescriptions may not have fully stabilized before surgery.
A small percentage of patients might experience a slight regression of their vision during the initial healing period after LASIK. This can occur if the eye’s healing response is unexpected, leading to a minor return of the original refractive error. Overall eye health and other ocular diseases, such as dry eye syndrome, can also influence visual clarity post-LASIK.
Addressing Vision Changes Post-LASIK
If vision changes occur after LASIK, various options are available. For a return of the original refractive error, a LASIK enhancement (retreatment) might be considered. This procedure involves re-lifting the original corneal flap and applying additional laser treatment to fine-tune the corneal shape. In some cases, PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) may be used for enhancement, particularly if the original LASIK was performed many years prior.
For presbyopia, LASIK does not prevent its onset. Solutions for presbyopia after LASIK include reading glasses, multifocal contact lenses, or surgical approaches like monovision LASIK. Monovision LASIK corrects one eye for distance and the other for near vision, allowing the brain to adapt and use each eye for its optimized range. Other procedures, such as refractive lens exchange, may also be options for presbyopia.
If cataracts develop, cataract surgery can be safely performed after LASIK. During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). While LASIK alters the cornea, cataract surgery addresses the lens, so one does not preclude the other. Modern advancements in IOL calculation methods have improved the predictability of cataract surgery outcomes for patients with prior LASIK. If surgical intervention is not suitable or preferred, glasses or contact lenses remain effective alternatives.