LASIK eye surgery, often known as laser vision correction or laser eye treatment, treats refractive abnormalities such as blurry vision, nearsightedness, and short-sightedness. Laser therapy improves your vision by reshaping your cornea with an excimer laser. The treatment aims to rectify light bend and provide a focused image on the retina. Most laser vision correction patients have positive outcomes that continue for more than ten years.
Your vision problems may return a few months or years following treatment. If the situation worsens, the procedure may have to be repeated. It’s crucial to remember that each patient has different eyesight requirements. You must see your doctor and discuss your case before scheduling a second LASIK eye surgery.
If you wear contact lenses, you must stop wearing them and only wear glasses for at least a few weeks before your examination and operation.
Can I undergo LASIK surgery multiple times?
LASIK laser eye surgery procedures can be performed more than once, depending on various circumstances. After the initial treatment, you should have better vision without needing glasses or contact lenses. You can go on vacation without fear of misplacing your glasses.
However, in some people, this is only temporary. Your eyesight may abruptly alter after a few years. Depending on the results of many tests, your ophthalmologist may prescribe a second LASIK treatment. Click here to read more about Emerging Issues with Children’s Myopia Condition: Sydney Eye Clinic.
So, your vision may alter at any point after the treatment and require LASIK augmentation for improved seeing. Like with the first treatment, the goal is to restore your eyesight and eliminate the need for contacts or glasses.
As a result, while LASIK is seen as a permanent procedure for vision correction since it permanently improves your prescription, it may not provide a long-term solution to your vision problems. If you have vision problems several years after having LASIK, you can do it again. More importantly, seek advice from the LASIK surgeon who performed the first surgery on your eye.
A thorough discussion with your doctor is essential. Your ophthalmologist will counsel you on the numerous treatment options available to you and the criteria for a second procedure.
Why You Might Need Lasik More Than Once
The majority of LASIK treatments are permanent. However, vision may deteriorate due to the normal aging process, necessitating a second LASIK procedure. According to surveys, more than 10% of LASIK patients may require follow-up surgery after ten years. Some individuals opt for either a second refractive surgery or an augmentation operation. In addition, people with various underlying eye disorders may require a second LASIK procedure as they age.
Most patients’ LASIK eye surgery lasts a lifetime since the treatment includes reshaping the cornea and repairing flaws that cause blurred vision. However, refractive defects may reoccur due to old age. It is crucial to understand that LASIK will not solve all your vision problems, and you may require additional upgrades to maintain excellent vision.
Many persons have age-related visual changes as early as the age of 40. Interestingly, you may only discover the changes late in your 50s. It’s also likely that you have glaucoma or cataracts and will require a second LASIK procedure to fix refractive faults.
Because the corneal flap does not become completely secure for 4 weeks, there are some limitations on your activities during that time.
Note:
Most surgeons will only undertake a second LASIK procedure if the first one lasts fewer than five years. LASIK can be performed more than once to treat any age-related eye changes. On the other hand, having more than three LASIK treatments is hazardous to your health. Because the surgeon eliminates corneal tissue during the LASIK process, you may end up with a thin cornea.
How long does Lasik’s eye surgery last?
Many people are concerned that LASIK effects would only be temporary. The truth is that LASIK can last a lifetime, but you may require improvements because your eyes change with age. LASIK surgery only corrects visual abnormalities; it does not prevent the aging of your eyes.
Your eyesight prescription can be permanently corrected by LASIK. You may only encounter myopia or hyperopia as you age. Your eyes may change after LASIK, but they will never be the same as before the treatment. It is important to understand that the treatment does not prevent presbyopia.
Presbyopia, or common long-sightedness in older age, can affect practically anyone. Presbyopia happens when your eye’s lens can’t refract light appropriately on the retina. It is a condition caused by aging.
Most people in their forties would need glasses to read well. The same is true for LASIK patients who require augmentation to help them see well. The time since the first treatment, age and underlying eye diseases are all factors that influence LASIK.
Why do I require a second or third LASIK surgery?
If done correctly, a second LASIK operation wouldn’t be necessary. However, rare circumstances may necessitate a second laser procedure.
One of the most common causes is when your surgeon does not remove enough corneal tissue. To repair your refractive problem, the surgeon must remove enough corneal tissue to reshape the cornea, letting light rays to focus clearly on the retina. Furthermore, the tissue may sometimes not repair adequately, stopping you from having good eyesight. In extreme circumstances, you may need to have a second LASIK treatment to help with healing.
The following factors would determine the viability of the second LASIK surgery:
- Eye structural status
- Age
- Current health
- Medical history
How often can you get Lasik in your life?
You can have LASIK surgery several times. The patient’s overall health and corneal thickness determine the precise number. You can get as many LASIK operations as you want throughout your lifetime. However, because their eyes only experience a few alterations following surgery, most individuals may never require additional treatment.
Conclusion
According to research, around 95% of LASIK patients had improved eyesight after the initial LASIK treatment. Before going for a second LASIK treatment, you must understand your expectations. LASIK is usually considered safe and effective. However, as with any medical operation, it might harm your eyes if not done properly.