Is LASIK Surgery Permanent?
LASIK surgery is the commonly used acronym for Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. It refers to a common type of eye surgery which can be performed by ophthalmologists to correct myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism which are optical defects causes by the irregular shape of the cornea or lens of the eye. Patients choose to have LASIK surgery so that they no longer need to wear contact lenses or eye glasses.
What is LASIK surgery?
LASIK is a simple procedure, usually taking just 15 minutes. The surgeon slices a thin flap of corneal tissue, reshapes the tissue beneath with a laser and replaces the flap. It is done using anesthetic eye drops and the patient is awake throughout. The procedure is considered safe with a high success rate, although some patients may need to wear reading glasses for close work even after the procedure.
How soon will I see the results?
The eye tissue heals remarkably quickly and although in the first few days after surgery the patient's sight may be blurry, the eye gradually heals. It takes from 6 weeks to 6 months for the eyesight to reach its optimum level of improvement.
How permanent is LASIK surgery?
LASIK surgery is permanent. However, the eye continues to change after surgery, so the results may not be permanent. Once the general improvement has been established, the eyes unfortunately continue to regress. Although the surgery to reshape the corneal tissue is permanent, the eye continues to change over time. Aging affects most people's sight detrimentally as they get older. Over the age of 40, presbyopia or farsightedness, is common. It is caused by ciliary muscle weakness and the eye's crystalline lens becoming less flexible. Many people who never needed glasses before suddenly find they need reading glasses for fine print. This regression continues naturally, hence the need for most people sooner or later to need reading glasses, even after LASIK surgery.
Can I have LASIK surgery done again?
As your eyes continue to change with age, there is no reason why LASIK cannot be done again. It is likely to be several years before the eyes have changed sufficiently to warrant further surgery. As always, a consultation with an eye specialist is necessary to determine the cause of the change or deterioration in eyesight, and what the best solution might be.
Everyone is different and no single answer applies to everyone. Some patients may need a second procedure later on in their lives, due to the changes taking place in their bodies as they age. LASIK is generally recommended for patients after major eye changes have occurred at certain times in their life, rather than before.
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