Wearing glasses or contact lenses all the time can become tiring, so it is no surprise that a quick laser surgery to restore your vision is so popular. However, people who consider LASIK often ask: Can your vision change again after LASIK? In this article, we answer this question, discuss why vision changes after LASIK, and outline the most common solutions for this issue.
Can Your Vision Change Again After LASIK?
In some cases, vision can regress after a LASIK procedure due to the following factors:
- As part of the healing process after LASIK, the cornea may return to its original curvature, reversing the flattening effect of the laser. Such changes most commonly happen in the first several months after the surgery.
- People whose vision was unstable before surgery might experience shifts in vision quality after surgery as well.
- The outer layer of the eye may thicken after laser reshaping, thereby altering refractive power. This process is called epithelial hyperplasia.
- People who had severe myopia (nearsightedness) or astigmatism before LASIK have a higher risk of experiencing regression.
- Chronic dry eyes, which LASIK can worsen, can increase the risk of vision regression after the procedure.
- With age, the lens inside the eye becomes less flexible. As a result, it is harder to focus on close objects. These vision changes are called presbyopia and can occur after age 40, regardless of whether you had LASIK previously.
- The development of eye health issues, such as cataracts, may result in blurred vision.
Noticeable vision regression after LASIK occurs in approximately 5 to 10 percent of patients, while mild regression is more common. Generally, you can expect vision fluctuations in the first 3 to 6 months after the surgery as the eye heals. Between months 6 and 12, the vision typically stabilizes, unless healing issues are present. Mild regression may occur in the next 5 years, especially in people who have very high myopia.
Still, 90 to 95 percent of LASIK patients have 20/40 vision or better even years after the surgery, and many patients maintain 20/20 vision long-term. Severe regression that significantly affects daily life is uncommon.
Can Vision Changes After LASIK Be Fixed?
Vision regression after LASIK can be fixed in many cases. Thus, LASIK enhancement procedures can be used 6 to 12 months after the first surgery if the corneas are thick enough to withstand the second laser treatment. The success rate of LASIK enhancement procedures is very high, provided the patient is a good candidate.
Sometimes, the Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) procedure can be chosen for the second correction instead of LASIK, especially when the cornea is thin. PRK recovery is typically longer than LASIK recovery, but this procedure can be very effective.
Finally, some people experience vision regression after LASIK, not because the procedure failed, but because dry eye can blur vision. In these cases, people do not require additional surgical procedures but do need treatment to improve their vision. Often, dry eye treatment involves prescribed eye drops, artificial tears, or tear-drain blockers.
Restore Your Vision at Advanced Eye Medical
If you are considering a LASIK procedure to improve your vision, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with an experienced eye surgeon at Advanced Eye Medical today. Our specialists will carefully examine your eye health to provide an accurate prognosis of the results you can expect from the surgery. We are looking forward to your visit.