Is LASIK permanent? The truth from our experts at LASIK MD

The short answer: Yes, LASIK surgery is designed to reshape the cornea. Permanently. This means that, once they've undergone this life-changing procedure, many of our patients won’t have to wear glasses or contact lenses in the decades to come.

Here’s why you should consider getting LASIK

There’s a reason why millions of people have chosen to pursue refractive surgery (surgical procedures that correct common vision problems) versus the more conventional means of correcting vision, like glasses or contact lenses. Upon first becoming widely available, people were blown away by the possibility of getting rid of their glasses with help from a laser. Today, not only has the novelty not worn off, but has actually become more popular.

In fact, the American Refractive Surgery Council (ARSC) deemed LASIK the “most popular vision correction procedure.” And it’s easy to see why: studies upon studies have looked at LASIK and its record of safety. Overall, most people trust how safe this procedure is. From surgeon experience to advancements in medical technology, vision correction procedures have only improved. Plus, in the years since it first became available, the technology has significantly evolved.

Patient satisfaction is at an all-time high, too: Between the years 2008 and 2015, the ARSC looked at more than 4,400 clinical studies examining how patients felt about their decision to get laser vision correction surgery. The data showed that, overall, most patients are overwhelmingly pleased: over 98% of patients are totally satisfied with the outcome of their procedure. Compare this to the satisfaction rate in contact lens users, which has plunged in recent years, according to a three-year study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that those who wear contact lenses are 500 times more susceptible to infection than with LASIK.

Even though LASIK has so much going for it, some people are still reluctant. One of the key barriers is that there is a concern that laser vision correction procedures aren’t permanent. The belief is that you might get to enjoy a year or two of clear vision, but eventually your eyesight will return to what it was in your pre-LASIK days.

But that just isn’t the case. This is an investment for years to come, which can help you enjoy enduring clear vision. Years after their LASIK surgery, most people are thrilled to share that their perfect vision hasn’t budged since they first had the procedure.

A common LASIK misconception, explained

Today’s LASIK technology is designed to do one thing: permanently reshape your cornea. However, there is a slight possibility that your vision will change. This is most commonly-seen in people who initially had LASIK with the intention of treating extreme cases of myopia.

A long-term, peer-reviewed study reported that out of a select number of patients who underwent LASIK for cases of myopia that were stronger than -10.0 D (extreme blurriness when seeing from far distances), just 6% opted for a LASIK enhancement within 10 years because their eyesight had regressed.

Many former LASIK patients claim that the change is so subtle that for the most part, it barely even registers. In other instances, they have to wear their glasses for select activities—mainly driving at nighttime—but for the most part can still enjoy the lasting results of their surgery.

On the other hand, if the regression is much more obvious, patients may choose to have what’s called an enhancement surgery—ostensibly a “touch-up”—to return their eyesight to form. Depending on the chosen procedure package, the cost of this enhancement procedure may or may not be included in the initial price. At LASIK MD, we offer enhancement plans in the unlikely event that you need one.

Does getting LASIK now mean I can’t treat reading vision loss in the future?

Although LASIK permanently corrects your current eye condition, it unfortunately cannot guard against potential age-related eye conditions, such as presbyopia or cataracts (more on those below).

Ever notice blurry vision when trying to read? Do you find yourself switching on brighter lighting when you never used to need to? This is a condition known as presbyopia, and it happens because the eye’s lens hardens with age and can lose elasticity. When the lens reaches this stage, it makes it difficult to focus on objects from a near distance. And, if left untreated, presbyopia eventually develops into a cataracts—these are masses of protein that gather over the eye’s lens, causing vision to be cloudy and dull in colour. There are procedures available for either of these conditions. Even if you’ve had LASIK surgery in the past, you’ll still be eligible to receive a corrective treatment for presbyopia in the future.

Is LASIK right for me?

Want to know if LASIK is right for you? The next step is to determine if you’re a candidate for laser vision correction. You’re encouraged to do so by booking a free, no-obligation consultation.

If you still want to learn more about LASIK, download a version of our free information booklet to help learn all about the positively life-changing vision correction procedures we offer.