In general, there is no restriction on the number of LASIK procedures you can have in your lifetime. However, the answer to “How many times can LASIK be done?” varies from person to person, depending on the health and thickness of their corneas. Most people continue to experience the benefits of LASIK for a long time. But some may require a LASIK booster surgery after 10 years.
The reason for this may depend on the age at which you are undergoing LASIK and your vision health. Before you can determine if multiple LASIK surgeries are possible, it's important to understand what the treatment involves and how it affects the anatomy of the eye. Lasik eye surgery has become one of the most popular and effective treatments for people who are beginning to show signs of vision loss and who don't want to limit themselves to corrective treatments with glasses. When LASIK surgery is performed, the laser used to shape the cornea is very precise and technologically advanced, so no tissue is cut or burned to achieve a new and optimal shape.
In rare cases, patients may need a second LASIK eye surgery right after the first one to correct a complication, but the chances of needing follow-up surgery are encouragingly low for this procedure. However, when considering LASIK surgery, one of the first questions that many people ask is whether LASIK eye surgery is permanent. Whether you anticipate needing an additional LASIK or an enhancement from LASIK, be sure to follow best practices while preparing for LASIK and during LASIK surgery; proper postoperative care increases the chances that both surgeries will be successful. However, certain factors influence how long LASIK eye surgery lasts, such as age and changes in vision, such as presbyopia or astigmatism.
The procedure for enhancing LASIK surgery after 10 years is almost identical to that of the initial surgery. Read on to learn more about how long LASIK eye surgery lasts, why some people need an enhancement from LASIK after 10 years, and more.