April 20, 2024
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How Long Does LASIK Eye Surgery Last?

Orange County LASIK eye surgery involves a laser that removes corneal tissues from the eyes and reshapes them to improve a patient’s vision. Millions of people get LASIK surgery because they no longer want to depend on glasses or contacts to see. You might be wondering how long Orange County LASIK surgery can last – whether it is permanent or not. This article aims to answer that question.

If you are undergoing LASIK eye surgery, your motivation is most likely to be able to see without glasses or contacts forever. Perhaps you want to be able to do high-adventure sports without the hassle of glasses or contacts. There are several different reasons why people choose to undergo LASIK. In most cases, successful LASIK surgery allows people to see clearly without glasses or contacts for the rest of their lives. Doctors confirm LASIK is a permanent vision correction solution and it can permanently correct an individual’s vision prescription. 

There are some specific factors, such as age and vision changes, that lead many people to question if LASIK can really last forever. 

In this article, we explore how long LASIK eye surgery lasts and why some people may want to consider LASIK enhancement after ten years.

 

Short and Long-Term Effects of LASIK

In terms of short-term effects, many patients experience an increase in clarity of vision only four to five hours after surgery. In terms of long-term effects, there are a few patients that experience a return in blurry vision as time goes on. This is rare but typically has to do with age-related changes, and it can be corrected. For most patients, LASIK lasts forever, but sometimes people need LASIK enhancement ten years after the initial surgery. 

 

Can LASIK Wear Off?

For individuals with underlying conditions like presbyopia, vision can change gradually over time and make the original Orange County LASIK eye surgery less effective. As we age and approach our 40s and 50s, the crystalline lens of the eye stiffens and can lead to presbyopia. The condition specifically makes it difficult for individuals to focus on near-sighted objects. Another reason your vision could change could be due to a condition like cataracts that people develop when they age. 

 

LASIK Enhancement

After ten years, your eye doctor may recommend LASIK enhancement surgery. As we mentioned before, rarely do patients need to get LASIK again. Only 3.5% of LASIK patients require enhancement surgery after ten years. The procedure for LASIK enhancement surgery after ten years is not different from the initial surgery. The only difference is that instead of cutting a new flap in the eye, your surgeon will lift the previous one and make small changes to reshape the cornea. For people who develop conditions affecting vision, such as cataracts and presbyopia, repeat LASIK surgery in ten years may be necessary. It is up to your eye doctor to determine what you need to do.

 

Improve Your Vision with LASIK

If you are interested in getting Orange County LASIK surgery, you can contact Excel Laser Vision Institute today to set up an appointment with Dr. Moosa.