Key Takeaways
- You can get LASIK more than once (but because of its risks, you should never get it more than three times)
- Most people with LASIK remain happy with the results, even 10 years later
- The average price of LASIK is around $4,200 for both eyes
- LASIK enhancement has both benefits and risks
- The risks of LASIK enhancement include various vision problems like severe dry eye and astigmatism
Thinking about LASIK? Start a conversation with an experienced Patient Counselor to find out if laser eye surgery is right for you. Learn More
How Many Times Can You Get LASIK?
LASIK is short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. It’s a minor surgical procedure that improves vision. The procedure permanently reshapes the tissue in the front of the eye.
Vision problems LASIK can correct include:
- Nearsightedness (myopia). This is when you can see close up objects clearly. Far-away objects appear blurry.
- Farsightedness (hyperopia). This is when you can see far-away objects clearly. Close up objects appear blurry.
- Astigmatism. Blurry vision occurs from an imperfection in the shape of the front of your eye.
LASIK corrects these eye conditions by reshaping your cornea with lasers. Once complete, light bends correctly and focuses on your retina.
As a result, you have clear, sharp vision close up and far away. The goal is to correct your vision completely so you don’t need to wear glasses or contacts.
Although LASIK is effective, it’s common for vision to worsen over time as part of the natural aging process. LASIK can’t prevent this, so your vision may become blurry again as you get older.
Your age at the time of LASIK treatment can impact how long the results last. If you have any other progressive eye conditions, your vision might also be affected.
You can get LASIK more than once. But undergoing more than three LASIK procedures can be harmful to your health and cause severe vision problems. Each time you undergo LASIK, the surgeon removes corneal tissue. If your corneas are too thin after the first procedure, you may not be able to have a second LASIK surgery.
How Common are Vision Changes After LASIK?
If your eyesight becomes blurry following your first LASIK procedure, you may be able to get it again. This depends on how your doctor extracted the tissue during the first procedure and how much they left behind.
Keep in mind: The majority of people who have LASIK remain happy with their vision, even after 10 years.
However, there are a few reasons why your vision might change after LASIK:
- If the original condition that affected your eyesight continues to progress.1
- A natural condition called presbyopia, which can develop as you age. Your lens becomes less flexible, and you can't focus on nearby objects.
One study discovered that 35 percent of people who had LASIK needed retreatment within 10 years.2
Another study followed people with nearsightedness and/or astigmatism who had LASIK. After 12 years, they discovered around 10 percent of the participants experienced regression (vision changes) during that time.3
Questions about LASIK? Call NVISION to speak with an experienced Patient Counselor who can answer all your questions and set up a free consultation. No commitment required.
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5 Reasons Why You Might Need a LASIK Enhancement
A 2007 study reported retreatment rates for LASIK procedures between 3 and 37.9 percent, depending on the literature.5
The main reasons why people undergo a LASIK enhancement include:
1. Patient and/or Surgeon Expectations
In some cases, people are content with a small amount of ongoing refractive problems if it doesn’t affect their daily tasks.
Healing time can take up to 2 or 3 months, so full vision correction may not occur for some time after the procedure. However, vision will be clearer in the days after the treatment.
If someone expects perfect eyesight, they’re more likely to seek an enhancement.
2. Stable Refractive Error
If the ongoing vision issue doesn’t change after 3 months, it may be time to seek a LASIK enhancement. This is because the initial procedure didn’t fully correct the shape of the cornea.
3. Improper Refraction/Data Entered
The laser used for LASIK is pre-programmed with information to shape the cornea properly. If this is even slightly off, under or overcorrection can occur.
4. Flap Issues
During LASIK, the surgeon cuts a flap of tissue and moves it aside. Then they shape the cornea with a laser.
If the flap doesn’t heal properly or becomes dislocated, you won’t get optimal visual acuity.
Retreatment may be more complicated in these cases but has been shown to help improve healing.
Cutting a new flap may be part of the treatment. This usually makes recovery longer, but is more likely to improve vision.
5. Other Healing Complications
Epithelial ingrowth or flap melting after LASIK requires retreatment. These complications may require the surgeon to re-lift the flap during a second procedure.
LASIK Enhancement Procedure & Costs
You’ll be awake during the LASIK procedure. It isn’t painful but you may experience some tugging or pressure in your eye. You can also request a sedative medication to help you relax.
The basic steps of a LASIK procedure include the following:
1. Your doctor uses anesthetic eye drops to numb both eyes. An eyelid holder keeps your eyes open.
2. Your doctor creates a flap in the outer layer of your cornea using a small blade or laser. This is when you might experience some pressure and discomfort.
3. During a conventional bladed LASIK, the surgeon sets a device called a microkeratome on the eye. It consists of a ring fixed to a tiny blade. Suction from the ring lifts your cornea, and the blade cuts a flap.
4. A femtosecond laser sends energy pulses toward your cornea, gently lifting its outer layer with all-laser LASIK. It then creates a cut, which makes a flap.
5. Your doctor gently lifts the flap.
6. They reshape your cornea using an excimer laser. This laser removes tissue from your cornea. The amount taken is based on your eyeglass or contact prescription. Your doctor may also use a custom wavefront laser, which uses light waves to analyze your eyes. This produces a detailed map of your eye so the laser can remove tissue from your cornea. The amount of tissue taken is based on the map.
7. Your doctor moves the flap back in its original position. It heals naturally without stitches.
LASIK enhancement is similar to a primary LASIK procedure. There’s only one main difference. Instead of using a microkeratome or laser to make a corneal flap, the retreatment surgeon uses special tools to lift the flap that was created on your eye’s surface during the initial surgery.
Immediately after treatment, your eye may itch and burn. Your vision may be blurry at first, but it should become sharper by the following day. Your doctor may also prescribe eye drops to help your eye(s) heal and remain moist.
You’ll also receive an eye shield to cover and protect your eye(s). You should have a follow-up visit with your doctor a few days after treatment to ensure your vision is healing well and there aren’t any complications.
After LASIK, it typically takes 2 to 3 months for your eye(s) to heal and vision to stabilize.
For the first 3 weeks or so, you should avoid:
- Wearing contacts or eye makeup
- Contact sports
- Hot tubs
- Swimming
The average price of LASIK is around $4,200 in total. In some cases, the cost can be less.4
Often, this price includes pre-op evaluations and post-op follow-up exams, as well as the procedure.
Sometimes the price includes follow-up LASIK enhancement to further correct your vision. This is usually provided if your doctor didn’t remove enough tissue initially.
Because LASIK is considered an elective procedure, most insurance companies don’t cover its costs.
NVISION Eye Centers offer custom LASIK, affordable pricing plans, and a lifetime guarantee. Learn More
Benefits & Risks of LASIK Enhancements
Lasik enhancement has pros and cons.
Pros:
- A quick and familiar process
- An improvement in vision that usually only takes a few days
- Clearer vision without contacts or glasses, depending on the patient’s circumstances
Cons
- A risk of a poorly healing flap from an infection or excessive tear production
- The risk of an irregular healing pattern of your cornea underneath the flap, which can cause vision issues and discomfort
- Astigmatism risk, where your eye can end up being an irregular shape because the tissue wasn’t removed evenly
- Severe dry eye syndrome, which can cause discomfort and vision problems if your eyes can’t make enough tears
- Long-term vision problems in dim light, leading to problems seeing at night or in dim light due to halos and glare
- Too much or too little tissue can also be removed, resulting in less than perfect results due to over or under correction
- While rare, loss or decreased vision can occur
In this article
Still not sure about LASIK? Talk with an experienced Patient Counselor at NVISION to find out if it's right for you.
Call 866-424-0296
FAQs
Can you have LASIK 3 times? ›
Yes, most patients can undergo LASIK surgery multiple times.
Can I get LASIK again after 10 years? ›The short answer is yes, though this is usually only done 5 – 10 years after the initial treatment. However, rest assured that LASIK offers long-term vision correction, and very few people require a second session.
What is the maximum limit for LASIK? ›It is therefore recommended that the ideal upper limit is -8.0, while the acceptable upper limit is -10.0. Beyond this number, LASIK should be avoided, and a better way would be to go in for an ICL implant. The upper limit of correction by LASIK for a plus number, i.e. hypermetropia is +5.0.
How many times can you get your eyes lasered? ›Simply put, yes, you can have laser eye surgery twice. However, the vast majority of our patients do not require a second procedure, as the changes made to your eye in laser eye surgery are permanent.
Why do I have blurry vision 5 years after LASIK? ›Vision changes after LASIK
Another common reason that vision may change years after LASIK is a natural eye change called presbyopia. It occurs as you age and your lens becomes less flexible and less able to focus on nearby objects.
Yes, it is possible to get LASIK twice. However, it is extremely uncommon to need the surgery twice, and the majority of individuals who undergo LASIK enjoy lasting improved vision after just one procedure.
At what age is LASIK not worth it? ›LASIK eye surgery age limits
At around age 40, your eyes start to change, and you may develop presbyopia – farsightedness due to age – which could affect your candidacy for LASIK. Your eyes change again at around age 60, with age-related vision problems such as cataracts possibly presenting at this time.
The good news is that there is no age limit for LASIK if your eyes are healthy. We have treated patients across a wide age range with great success, including patients in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.
Is LASIK worth it at 35? ›The Best Age to Get LASIK
The most popular time to have LASIK is between the ages of 35 and 40. This is when your vision is at its most stable, and, for most people, it's an age when surgery is most likely to be affordable.
In general, most people who have laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery achieve 20/20 vision or better, which works well for most activities. But most people still eventually need glasses for driving at night or reading as they get older.
What prescription is too bad for LASIK? ›
Typically, eye doctors will set their limits to +6 for farsightedness, -12 for nearsightedness, and 6 diopters for astigmatism. However, not all laser strengths are the same, so there's some wiggle room. Plus, someone with a -12 prescription might be approved for LASIK while someone with a -9 prescription isn't.
Can LASIK surgery give you better than 20 20 vision? ›Yes, it's possible to get vision clearer than 20/20 after surgery. Better than normal vision means that, what most people see well from 19 feet or 18 feet, you can comfortably recognize from 20 feet. While you could use the best eyesight possible, anything better than 20/20 isn't necessarily the best treatment outcome.
Does laser eye last for life? ›The effects of laser eye surgery generally last for life, but a small percentage of patients might experience regression and therefore benefit from an enhancement or secondary procedure.
How long do laser eyes last? ›Permanently corrected vision
One of the benefits of laser eye surgery (including LASIK) is its permanence. Once the procedure takes place, the effects of laser eye surgery – reshaping the cornea to correct long- or short-sightedness – will usually last for life.
LASIK is a permanent surgical vision correction procedure. A laser is used to change the shape of the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Reshaping your cornea is a permanent change and therefore, it does not “wear off”.
Why is my LASIK wearing off? ›LASIK permanently corrects the vision prescription that you have at the time of surgery. This means that it cannot wear off. However, any underlying conditions such as presbyopia that progress over time can cause changes to your vision, making the original LASIK procedure less effective.
How long does it take to get 20/20 vision after LASIK? ›Recovery can vary from person to person, however most people see 20/20 by the next morning after their LASIK procedure. Although the patient's vision is usually very good, that does not mean that healing is complete. It is common for healing to go on for weeks to months after the procedure.
Does LASIK fix astigmatism? ›The ultra-precise lasers used for LASIK surgery can be programmed to reshape the cornea so the front surface of the eye is more symmetrical, thereby eliminating vision problems caused by astigmatism. Most of the time astigmatism can be fully corrected with a single LASIK procedure.
Can LASIK be done after 40? ›There is no fixed upper age limit and is dependent on the individuals' eye health and visual needs. For patients who do not have any organic reasons for the vision loss including cataract, and have no medical contraindications, they can safely undergo LASIK.
Can you get LASIK after 40? ›Being 40 or older doesn't disqualify you from getting LASIK and enjoying the benefits. The best LASIK eye surgery candidates are adults that have had a stable vision prescription for two years.
Can your eyes get too bad for LASIK? ›
Yes, your vision can be potentially too bad for LASIK. LASIK is available to a variety of patients, but patients will generally qualify for treatment if their vision falls between -0.5 D to -8.0 D myopia. The maximum prescription for treatment for patients with moderate to severe myopia is around -8.0 D.
What time of year is best to get LASIK? ›For many people, it's best to wait until after the summer, so that their surgical recovery won't make it harder for them to go boating, swimming, waterskiing or participating in any of the other water activities popular in summer. LASIK doesn't require you to put your life on hold.
How much does a LASIK surgery cost? ›| Treatment Name | Price Per Eye | |
|---|---|---|
| Optegra | LASIK (blade-free) | From £1,795 |
| Centre For Sight | IntraLASIK Supracor | £2,675 |
| Focus | LASIK (blade-free) | £2,400 – £2,800 |
| London Vision Clinic | LASIK (blade-free) | £2,600 – £3,250 |
From a medical perspective, your 30s are a wonderful time to consider LASIK. By this time in your life, your prescription has most likely remained stable for a few years as your eyes have reached their full development. This means that there is little chance that your distance vision will deteriorate once corrected.
Is it worth getting LASIK after 50? ›LASIK Over 50, 60 and Beyond
But there are plenty of people in their 40's, 50's, 60's and beyond who have relatively healthy eyes and therefore may still be perfectly good candidates for LASIK. So the idea that there is an upper-age limit for treatment is simply false.
The LASIK complication rate is only about 0.3%.
Is 45 too late for LASIK? ›While there is currently no age limit for older adults wanting LASIK surgery, there are some vision conditions affecting adults age 40 and above that can't be treated with this surgery. These conditions are: Presbyopia or blurry near vision typically occurring around age 40. Cataracts or glaucoma.
Who should not have laser eye surgery? ›You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
Why is my left eye still blurry after LASIK? ›While you will see better the day after surgery, your vision may be a bit blurry or hazy immediately afterward. These temporary vision difficulties usually clear up after the first few weeks. However, it can take about 2 – 3 months before your vision fully stabilizes and your eyes completely heal.
Is it normal to have blurry vision 6 months after LASIK? ›Dry Eyes: Creating the LASIK flap will temporarily disrupt nerves that supply the cornea. These nerves usually regenerate in the first 3-6 months after LASIK. During this time, the eyes tend to be dry and this can cause vision to be blurred or to fluctuate.
How many LASIK surgeries end in blindness? ›
It's estimated that the chances of going blind as a result of laser eye surgery are around 1 in 5 million.
Can your eyes reject LASIK? ›The most common reason for rejecting LASIK was suboptimal central corneal thickness (55.1%). High myopia > -12.00 diopters (18.4%), keratoconus (9.6%), and hyperopia (5.9%) were other significant reasons.
Can bad LASIK be fixed? ›Irregularities or damage that has occurred can be fixed with laser corneal reconstruction with topographic guided ablation to reshape the cornea and fix the damage.
What's the best vision ever recorded? ›It seems that the best eyesight ever reported in a human was in an Aborigine man with 20/5 vision! To give you an idea of how clear and far he could see, his vision measurement compares to the natural sight of eagles. From 20 feet, he could perceive the fine details that most people can only see from 5 feet away!
Why is LASIK so expensive? ›Like anything else, LASIK eye surgery prices are partially determined by provider costs for particular expenses related to providing the service, like rent for an office location, the costs of medical equipment, and salaries of personnel, but the two most important factors are costs associated with primarily surgical ...
What is 20 200 vision like? ›Based on visual acuity testing, a person is considered legally blind when their best corrected vision is 20/200, which means they need to be at least 20 feet away to see something that a person with normal vision can see from 200 feet away.
Why is one eye blurry 3 months after LASIK? ›However, you may still experience blurry vision or vision fluctuations from time to time as you heal. Your eyes are adjusting to the newly reshaped cornea. They need time to get used to functioning in a new way. It will take anywhere from three to six months for your eyes to fully heal.
Will I still need glasses after laser eye surgery? ›Patients typically undergo laser eye surgery to reduce or completely eliminate their need for visual aids such as contact lenses and glasses. The truth is that most patients will eventually require reading glasses at some point in their future.
How long do LASIK goggles last? ›How Long Will You Have to Wear LASIK Goggles? You will be advised to wear your LASIK goggles for the rest of the day after your surgery, when your eyes will most likely be itchy and dry, and the temptation to rub them will be at its greatest.
Why did my astigmatism come back after LASIK? ›If you had moderate to high astigmatism prior to your LASIK procedure, it's possible that your eyes have regressed due to the healing process. This can happen naturally and isn't necessarily a sign of any complication from the procedure.
What are the disadvantages of laser eye treatment? ›
- Dry eye. Dry eye following laser eye surgery is typically a temporary phenomenon but can become a longer term problem if patients are not evaluated properly before surgery. ...
- Halos and Glare. ...
- Infection. ...
- Ectasia. ...
- Flap complications.
Many LASIK patients do experience vision correction that lasts a lifetime. Patients with vision that's changed several years after LASIK could undergo LASIK again. The first step is to contact the practice that originally performed your procedure.
How often is LASIK unsuccessful? ›How Safe is LASIK? All surgeries carry some risk of complications and side effects, but LASIK is generally considered a safe procedure with a low complication rate. In fact, LASIK is one of the safest elective surgical procedures available today, with a complication rate estimated to be less than 1%.
Will I ever need glasses again after LASIK? ›What many don't realize is that LASIK surgery doesn't protect against age-related eye conditions or remove certain refractive errors caused by the thickness of the cornea. For this reason, even individuals who have had successful LASIK surgery may need glasses.
What age does LASIK stop? ›The good news is that there is no age limit for LASIK if your eyes are healthy. We have treated patients across a wide age range with great success, including patients in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.
Is LASIK worth it over 40? ›But the answer is generally yes – LASIK is worth it after 40. LASIK is safe and effective for patients older than 40 and produces the long-term value that this refractive surgery is known for.
Why does LASIK not last forever? ›LASIK permanently corrects the vision prescription that you have at the time of surgery. This means that it cannot wear off. However, any underlying conditions such as presbyopia that progress over time can cause changes to your vision, making the original LASIK procedure less effective.
How do you know if LASIK didn't work? ›If your vision is still noticeably blurred three months after LASIK, you may need an enhancement. To determine whether you're a good candidate for a LASIK enhancement, your eye doctor will re-evaluate your corneas with the same methods used prior to your first LASIK procedure.
Why do I have blurry vision 2 years after LASIK? ›However, in a small number of people, the lens may undergo age-related changes. Such changes may cause a person to develop blurry vision after a few years of LASIK surgery. The following factors can cause myopia to return after the LASIK: Having high myopia (myopia above -6.00 D)