Will I need glasses after LASIK?
LASIK eye surgery is often viewed as a permanent alternative to glasses. While that may be the case for many patients, LASIK doesn’t prevent you from needing glasses in the future. It’s important to understand what may or may not happen after LASIK so you can make an informed decision about your eye care. Let’s take a closer look at how laser eye surgery works.
How LASIK works
LASIK is a procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These vision problems result from improper light refraction, and the cornea is responsible for how your eyes refract or “bend” light. Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea to allow light to come in at precisely the right angle, reducing the need for glasses.
Does LASIK cure optical problems?
LASIK can correct vision problems, but it does not cure or prevent all of them. This is why some patients may need glasses after surgery. One example of this would be residual astigmatism. In this case, the cornea does not heal to the proper shape, and the patient develops astigmatism.
Some forms of severe myopia (nearsightedness) may not be fully treated with LASIK. The surgery can drastically improve vision but may not eliminate the need for corrective lenses. Consult your eye doctor to determine if LASIK is the proper procedure to help you reach your goals.
Why you may need glasses after LASIK eye surgery
LASIK is corrective, but it’s not preventative against certain optical issues. For instance, presbyopia is a type of farsightedness that develops with age, typically 40+ years old. The eye’s lens loses elasticity, making it difficult to focus on nearby objects. LASIK is not a treatment or prevention for presbyopia, so you may need corrective lenses to combat it.
Another factor to remember is that LASIK does not treat issues like cataracts. Thus you may need additional eye care after your surgery to correct developing conditions. LASIK is not a cure-all, but it does yield a lifetime without glasses for many patients.