Do LASIK Results Last Forever?
At Will Vision & Laser Centers, our patients usually want to know whether LASIK results are permanent. Since they are investing time and money into laser vision correction, it’s understandable that they are curious about what to expect.
The simple answer is that in most cases, LASIK results are considered permanent. Many of our LASIK patients can enjoy years (or decades!) of clear vision without the need for corrective lenses.
Understand that there are certain factors that can influence the quality of your vision after LASIK. Let’s explore these considerations in more detail.
Having Stable Vision Prior to LASIK Is Important
For the best and longest-lasting results, we encourage our LASIK candidates to have a stable vision prescription before undergoing surgery. Here’s why: if your vision isn’t stable, and you have LASIK, there’s a chance that your vision prescription will change and you will need to undergo the procedure again.
We recommend that you wait until your vision prescription has stabilized for at least a year before having LASIK surgery.
Typical Results
If you have a stable vision prescription, it is likely you will enjoy long-lasting results and freedom from glasses and contact lenses. LASIK changes the shape of your cornea so it can focus light properly on your retina. This involves re-shaping the corneal tissue with a sophisticated laser to correct an abnormal curvature. Once the corneal tissue has been re-shaped, it generally stays that way.
In a small percentage of patients, the cornea may start to return to its original shape (this is more common in individuals with a higher pre-operative prescription). Or, although it is rare, certain patients’ eyes may not heal properly from the procedure, and their results may be compromised. In both of these scenarios, we can perform a secondary procedure to enhance the results of LASIK.
Factors that Can Affect Vision after LASIK
Certain health conditions, like diabetes, can affect visual acuity over time. An age-related vision condition called presbyopia can also threaten the clarity of your vision as you get older. Presbyopia typically occurs in middle-aged adults and is marked by the progressively diminished ability to focus on nearby objects. If you develop presbyopia, you will probably need to wear reading glasses to see up-close, or have an additional procedure to produce monovision.
Another age-related vision condition that could affect clear vision is the development of cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens. Cataracts generally affect adults in their 70s and 80s, and must be surgically removed.
Schedule a LASIK Consultation
To learn more about LASIK results and what you can expect after surgery, please schedule a LASIK consultation at Will Vision & Laser Center. Send us an email, or call our Vancouver office at (877) 542-EYES (3937), our Beaverton office at (877) 542-3937 or our Salem office at (877) 542-3937.