LASIK surgery is a permanent and irreversible procedure that remodels the cornea to improve vision. While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits may diminish over time. Most people continue to see the effects of LASIK forever, but some may need to have a LASIK booster surgery after 10 years. The reason for this may vary depending on the age at which you are undergoing LASIK and your vision health.
The duration of “LASIK” will depend on how old you are when you undergo LASIK and how much your eye conditions progress, if at all. During the evaluation, the eye doctor will ask you about your medical and surgical history and perform a complete eye exam to evaluate your vision and determine if you can safely undergo the procedure. Once the full healing process after LASIK eye surgery is complete, you will achieve your optimal visual acuity. During LASIK eye surgery, an eye surgeon creates a flap in the cornea (A), the transparent dome-shaped surface of the eye that represents a large part of the eye's bending or refractive power.
The eye surgeon uses a small blade or a sharp laser to cut a small, hinged flap to separate it from the front of the eye. For people over 40 to 45 years of age who choose LASIK surgery to correct myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, the prognosis is good and the improvement in vision achieved will be maintained for many years. However, some specific factors contribute to answering the question of “how long does LASIK eye surgery last”, such as age and changes in vision, such as presbyopia or astigmatism. After undergoing LASIK eye surgery, developing cataracts can affect the clarity of vision, so additional vision correction is necessary.
According to a study that examined the permanence of LASIK, only 3.5% of LASIK patients needed an improvement from LASIK after 10 years. For most patients, LASIK results will last a lifetime. However, this doesn't mean that your vision will stay sharp for the rest of your life. LASIK cannot stop eye changes that are part of the normal aging process.
The procedure for improving LASIK surgery after 10 years is almost identical to that of the initial surgery. As an expert in laser eye surgery, I can confidently say that LASIK results are usually permanent. However, it is important to note that there are certain factors that can affect how long your results last. Age is one factor; if you are over 40 or 45 when you undergo LASIK, your results may not last as long as someone who is younger.
Additionally, changes in vision such as presbyopia or astigmatism can also affect how long your results last. Finally, developing cataracts can also affect your vision clarity and require additional vision correction procedures. Overall, LASIK results typically last a lifetime. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are certain factors that can affect how long your results last and it is important to discuss these with your doctor before undergoing any laser eye surgery procedure.
