Is LASIK Eye Surgery Permanent?

Refractive errors like farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism affect millions of people, and many rely on glasses or contact lenses to see without difficulty. However, corrective lenses can be inconvenient and expensive. LASIK laser eye surgery lets you enjoy the world with greater clarity and less hassle. 

What is LASIK Laser Eye Surgery?

LASIK is a popular type of laser vision correction that uses a laser to treat refractive errors. It reshapes your cornea, the clear dome at the front of your eye, to correct the angle of incoming light. Refractive errors happen when the light entering the eye focuses somewhere other than on your retina. With this issue corrected, your retina can transmit clear images to the brain. 

Is LASIK Eye Surgery Permanent?

LASIK permanently alters your cornea, providing long-lasting results. Many people enjoy a decade or more of clear vision. However, your eyes will continue to change as you age, and your vision may not stay as sharp as it was immediately after your procedure. While you will continue to see more clearly than you did before, you may eventually need corrective lenses again, especially for activities like reading or driving. 

Your eyes will also be affected by age-related changes such as presbyopia and cataracts. Presbyopia is an age-related stiffening of the lenses that keeps them from adjusting to seeing things close up, causing people to need reading glasses. Cataracts are the result of proteins in the lenses gradually breaking down and clumping together, causing cloudiness. Your Heart of Texas Eye Care ophthalmologist will help you understand your options to treat these issues. 

How is LASIK Eye Surgery Performed?

Your eye surgeon will numb your eyes before performing LASIK. The whole procedure takes less than ten minutes per eye and causes no discomfort. Your eye surgeon uses a laser to create a small flap in the outer layer (epithelium) of the cornea. They will move this flap aside and use an excimer laser to remove microscopic layers of the cornea to achieve the correct shape. The flap is moved back into place and begins to heal quickly. Once healed, the flap is invisible except during an eye exam. 

What is Recovery Like After LASIK?

Most people can return to their usual activities within a few days of LASIK. You will receive eye drops to lubricate your eyes as well as medicated drops to help them heal. Minor irritation and blurriness usually improve within a few days. You should take the following precautions:

• Wear eye shields during sleep to prevent rubbing your eyes
• Avoid exposure to dusty or windy areas
• Do not go swimming for at least two weeks
• Do not apply eye makeup for two weeks
• Wear polarized UV-blocking sunglasses

Following your aftercare instructions will help your eyes heal quickly and let you start enjoying your clearer vision. 

Take the Next Step

If you’d like to learn more about LASIK, schedule a consultation with our Heart of Texas Eye Care team, serving Dripping Springs, Austin, Kyle, Bee Cave, Marble Falls, and other surrounding areas. Contact us at (512) 213-2220 today!

*Individual results may vary