Posted by: Manhattan LASIK Center
Deciding to correct your vision with laser surgery can be life-changing! As you consider your options, one question you may have is whether the results will be permanent.
The answer to that question can depend on several factors, including your age, your eye prescription, and your eye health. Keep reading to learn more about whether laser vision correction is permanent.
How Long Does Laser Eye Surgery Last?
For most patients, laser vision correction procedures, including LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) and SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction), offer stable and long-lasting results. These procedures correct vision by permanently changing the shape of the cornea, allowing light entering the eye to focus properly on the retina. After laser vision correction, the results are generally long-lasting, allowing for years of crisp, glasses-free vision.
Why Might My Vision Change After Laser Surgery?
Even after successful laser vision correction, some individuals may experience changes in the quality of their vision over time. These changes are often unrelated to vision procedures but are instead caused by other factors.
The factors that can change your vision after laser surgery include:
Aging
The most significant factor affecting the longevity of laser eye surgery is the natural aging process of the eye. As they age, most people develop presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, which is caused by the hardening of the lens of the eye.
LASIK and other procedures can’t prevent changes to the eye’s lens, which are often caused by aging. Even after vision correction, a person may eventually need reading glasses for close vision.
Age at Time of Procedure
For the longest-lasting results, a person’s age at the time of their procedure can be a significant factor. It’s important to have a procedure at the right time for the best possible outcome.
While the minimum age for most procedures is 18, some ophthalmologists advise waiting until a patient is in their early 20s, when vision is most likely to be truly stable. At the other end of the spectrum, patients over 40 may experience short-lived results as their eyes change with age.
Stability of Eye Prescription
A stable eye prescription for at least a year is essential for lasting results. If a patient’s eye prescription changes after surgery, they may still need glasses or contact lenses for clear vision at all distances.
It is not always possible to undergo a second procedure to correct changes in eye prescription. It can risk eye health if performed too soon after the original procedure, or a patient may no longer be considered a suitable candidate for a second surgery.
Degree of Refractive Error
Patients with higher degrees of refractive error, such as severe nearsightedness, may have short-lived results. They may experience a gradual regression of their corrected vision.
There are limits to the capacities of laser vision correction surgeries. A patient’s eye prescription must fall within a specific range to achieve successful, lasting results.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes throughout life can have an enormous impact on the eyes. They can affect the growth and shape of the eyes during puberty and cause vision changes in women throughout their lives.
Young adults should wait until they are through puberty to have their vision corrected with LASIK or another procedure. For women, hormonal changes, such as the ones experienced during pregnancy, can temporarily affect the results of laser vision correction.
Other, less common factors can affect the results of laser vision correction, including cataract development, allergies, eye irritants, and dry eye syndrome. With the exception of cataracts, which require surgery, most other factors can be treated with over-the-counter remedies and do not permanently affect vision.
Does LASIK Need to Be Redone?
LASIK is usually a one-time procedure that provides lasting results and does not require any enhancements or adjustments. As mentioned above, it is not always possible or advisable to undergo a second LASIK surgery.
Fortunately, enhancements are seldom necessary. Most patients maintain 20/20 or better vision for decades after their procedure.
If your ophthalmologist determines that an adjustment is required, the safety of the procedure depends on the thickness and condition of your cornea. A second procedure carries a higher risk of complications if there is insufficient corneal tissue.
In situations where the outcome of LASIK has been affected by age-related eye conditions, a second procedure may not be effective. In these cases, alternative options, such as refractive lens exchange or contact lenses, may help restore clear vision.
Can Laser Eye Surgery Results Fade Over Time?
Laser eye surgeries correct vision by permanently reshaping the cornea, so the corneal change itself does not “wear off.” The results are anatomically permanent (cornea is reshaped) but functional clarity can change due to o natural aging of the eye’s internal lens (presbyopia) or conditions like cataracts. Changes to the clarity of a person’s vision after a procedure are almost always caused by other factors.
The effects of factors such as aging and hormonal changes can make it seem like the results are fading, but laser vision correction procedures do not simply stop working. Often, the factors affecting clear vision must be addressed to achieve optimal results.
Laser vision correction can be a highly effective and long-lasting solution for individuals looking to permanently correct their vision. While there are factors that can compromise the results, most patients who correct their vision with LASIK, SMILE, or another surgery enjoy many years of clear, crisp vision.
Do you want to learn more about laser vision correction and how long you might be able to experience greater visual freedom after undergoing a vision correction procedure? Schedule a consultation at Manhattan LASIK Center in Manhattan, NY, today!
