A decade ago, you leaped; you decided LASIK was the right move for you. So, you tossed your glasses in a drawer and never looked back. But recently, the letters on your favorite restaurant menu appear a little fuzzy, or it takes a beat longer to read road signs. This can cause anxiety, but you don’t have to assume the worst. Vision changes after LASIK are common and rarely equate to a failed procedure. A skilled team at a LASIK and cataract surgery center can identify what’s going on and walk you through your options, most of which aren’t as complicated as you’d expect.
Why Vision Changes After Procedure Is Successful?
LASIK reshapes your cornea to correct the prescription you had on the day of your surgery. Its abilities are limited in permanently halting any vision changes. Many components that make up your eye continue to age on their own schedule. The correction made to your cornea is permanent, but the changes in the rest of your eye can still cause vision complications. In most cases, when patients notice vision changes years after their procedure, these changes are often attributable to a handful of causes, each with its own treatment path.
Presbyopia
As you age, your natural lens progressively loses its flexibility and with it its ability to shift focus between distances. Presbyopia affects nearly everyone, whether they had LASIK, wore glasses their whole lives, or never needed corrective measures at all. The treatment can be as simple as over-the-counter readers. Other treatments like monovision enhancement, where one eye is adjusted for near vision while the other stays set for distance, and lens-based procedures are also available.
Regression
A small population of LASIK patients experiences a gradual shift back toward their original prescription. This can occur years after the procedure. This occurs more commonly in patients who started with a stronger prescription. Hormonal shifts, such as pregnancy, can play a role as well. If this is the cause of your vision distortion and your cornea has sufficient remaining tissue, an enhancement procedure can often correct the issue. If enhancement is not feasible, corrective lenses tailored to tasks such as night driving are a less invasive fallback option that many patients opt for.
Cataracts
Refractive surgery does not prevent the development of cataracts, a clouding of your eye’s natural lens. Glares and halos around lights at night, colors that appear washed out, or blur that new glasses can’t fix often indicate this as the cause. Cataract surgery is often the preferred treatment method and can be performed after LASIK.
When You Notice a Change
If you begin to notice a change in your vision, a full eye exam is the starting point. You must be honest about any symptoms you are experiencing to ensure the best outcomes. Most post-LASIK complications are treatable, and early intervention with the right information substantially reduces risk.
Changed Vision Doesn’t Mean Failed LASIK
Your LASIK didn’t stop working. Your eyes kept living. Most vision complications post-LASIK have well-established treatments. They can range from something as simple as an inexpensive pair of readers to a lens replacement that can leave you seeing better than you ever thought. The only wrong move is to ignore symptoms and do nothing. Schedule an exam, bring any records you have, and consult with an experienced care team to match the right fix to the real cause. You have little to lose and vision to gain by being active in your vision health.
Schedule an eye exam with us today to discuss treatment options for your vision concerns.