How long does LASIK eye surgery last?

Hi, it’s Matt Russell from VSON Laser Vision Specialists. One of the most common questions I hear is “how long does LASIK eye surgery last?” Many people also ask a similar question: how long does laser eye surgery last, especially when they are comparing different treatment options.

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) is a surgical procedure that can improve your vision so you no longer depend on glasses and contact lenses to see. It permanently reshapes the tissue in the front of your eye, and these changes last your whole life.

However, most people’s vision gets worse over time due to the natural ageing process. LASIK can’t prevent this, so your vision may become blurry again as you get older and develop presbyopia or cataracts.

How long these changes occur after your LASIK procedure will depend on your age, when you had the LASIK surgery and if you have any other progressive eye conditions.

It is usually possible to undergo further surgeries to correct your vision if these changes occur.

Why do people ask how long LASIK lasts?

People often ask this question because they want to know if LASIK is a short-term fix or a long-term form of vision correction. It can feel reassuring to know that the changes made during LASIK are designed to stay in place. But it is also important to understand how the eye changes with age. These changes happen for everyone, even people who never had LASIK, and even people who never needed glasses when they were younger.

What happens to your eyes as you age?

As you move through your 40s and 50s, it is common for your focusing power to change. This makes it harder to see up close, which is known as presbyopia. Presbyopia is not caused by LASIK. It is a natural change inside the eye.

Many people start to hold their phone further away or feel they need reading glasses. Others notice they struggle in dim light. Even if you had LASIK when you were younger, these age-related shifts can still appear and may mean you need to wear glasses or contact lenses again for close tasks.

Cataracts and later-life changes

Some people also develop cataracts later in life. A cataract is when the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. This can slowly cause blurred vision. LASIK cannot stop cataracts from forming because cataracts occur inside the eye, not on the surface where LASIK is performed.

If cataracts develop years after LASIK, treatment for the cataract can usually be planned in a way that takes your previous eye procedure into account.

Do LASIK results fade over time?

It’s normal to wonder whether LASIK results fade. The reshaping of the cornea is stable, but the rest of the eye continues to age. Because of this, some people feel their vision is not as crisp years later. This does not mean the original treatment “wore off.” It simply means the eye has changed in other ways.

How quickly this happens is different for each person. Your age at the time of LASIK, your prescription, and your eye health all play a role.

Is an enhancement procedure needed later?

Some people may be suitable for an enhancement procedure later in life if their prescription changes. This is not needed for everyone. An enhancement is only considered after a full assessment to make sure the eye is healthy and stable.

Sometimes an enhancement is not the best option. In those cases, reading glasses or distance glasses may be the simplest way to manage small changes.

Other eye factors that continue after LASIK

It’s also helpful to remember that LASIK does not stop ongoing conditions that existed before. For example, if you have dry eye symptoms, these may continue over time. If you have a family history of progressive conditions, your eye doctor may monitor you more closely.

Regular check-ups help pick up small changes early, which is important for any adult, even those who have never had LASIK.

Thinking about LASIK for yourself?

If you are thinking about LASIK and wondering if you are suitable, the first step is to take our suitability self-test.