LASIK is a type of eye surgery that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the transparent covering of the front of the eye. It is done to improve vision and reduce a person's need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. The physical effects of the procedure last a lifetime, as it permanently remodels the cornea. However, it is important to note that the need for reading glasses, cataracts, and other age-related changes will still affect all people as they age.
It is also important to continue having your eyes examined regularly after LASIK surgery to reduce the risk of untreated eye diseases, usually age-related. Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a surgical procedure that can improve vision and these changes last a lifetime. The National Eye Institute states that you're likely to develop cataracts as you age and, in some cases, require corrective surgery. The future onset of cataracts is another factor to consider when undergoing LASIK laser eye surgery. Different techniques of laser eye surgery have been studied to investigate which method could be associated with a lower risk of regression.
While vision correction through LASIK surgery is long lasting, the eye's natural aging process changes vision even if you've undergone the procedure. There is also little data to predict when a person might begin to experience regression after undergoing laser eye surgery. There's a reason why eye surgeons require a minimum age before performing laser vision correction. The simple answer is no; the adjustments made during LASIK surgery permanently change the shape of the eye. However, if you've been wondering if laser eye surgery is permanent, it's worth knowing that there are a couple of caveats in this answer.
During a laser eye surgery procedure, the eye surgeon uses a laser tool to adjust the curvature of the cornea, the front surface of the eye. LASIK, or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, is a type of eye surgery that can improve vision even if you have a high prescription for eyeglasses. Many patients want to know if LASIK eye surgery will eliminate their vision problems and their need to wear corrective lenses or contact lenses forever. Subjecting your eyes to the scalpel (or, in the case of laser eye surgery, to the laser) is no small commitment. Your eye doctor will perform detailed tests on your eyes to determine what type of LASIK surgery is right for you. The best way to find out if LASIK or SMILE laser eye surgery is right for you is to have a free initial appointment.
For this reason, surgeons often avoid laser eye surgery for people approaching presbyopia, since days without wearing glasses are too short. Since laser vision correction is applied to the cornea to normally correct long-distance vision, but presbyopia is due to changes in the lens inside the eye, undergoing laser eye surgery does not compensate for the inevitable age-related reading difficulties. In conclusion, LASIK is an effective and permanent way to improve vision and reduce dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, it is important to note that it does not prevent age-related changes such as cataracts or presbyopia from occurring.
It is also important to continue having regular checkups with your ophthalmologist after undergoing LASIK surgery.
