If you’re considering LASIK, you likely have one essential question: Is LASIK permanent? At Florida Eye Custom Vision, we understand that getting clear about LASIK’s long-term results is a big factor for anyone exploring this type of vision correction. The reassuring answer is that LASIK is designed to provide a permanent correction to your nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism; but, this “permanence” solely affects your refractive error. Other factors, such as natural aging and your overall eye health, can impact your long-term visual experience after LASIK.
LASIK 101 – What It Is & Why It’s a Permanent Change
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is an advanced refractive treatment that reshapes your cornea—the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of your eye—so light can focus properly onto your retina. Depending on what refractive error you have determines how your cornea is reshaped; it may be flattened for nearsightedness, steepened to fix farsightedness, or smoothed out for astigmatism. At Florida Eye Custom Vision, we use an all-laser, blade-free technology called IntraLase® to deliver exceptional visual outcomes with outstanding precision and safety throughout your LASIK treatment.
Why Is LASIK Considered Permanent?
What makes LASIK a long-lasting, permanent solution is the fact that it changes the structure of your eye. This provides:
- Corneal Reshaping: Our advanced excimer laser gently removes microscopic layers of corneal tissue, creating a new, stable curvature that acts as a permanently optimized lens for your eye.
- Anatomical Stability: Unlike glasses or contacts, the changes made during LASIK don’t “wear off” or regenerate. Your cornea’s new shape remains steady, helping you enjoy clear vision for years to come.
- Designed for Lasting Clarity: Because this structural change is durable and robust, LASIK offers a reliable, long-term solution for your refractive error.
This lasting improvement is why many of our patients experience consistently clear vision and long-term satisfaction after LASIK. We’re here to answer your questions and help you decide if LASIK eye surgery is right for you.
Does LASIK Last Forever? Looking at How Long Your Results Will Last
While the changes made to your cornea during LASIK are permanent, your vision can still evolve due to natural aging or other eye conditions. The encouraging news is that most patients enjoy stable, clear vision for 10 to 20 years after their LASIK procedure. So, while LASIK doesn’t necessarily last “forever,” it does offer years of visual freedom before most people ever need to consider touch-ups or enhancements.
4 Key Factors That Affect LASIK Longevity
Several important factors determine how long your LASIK results will last:
- Age at Surgery: Patients whose eyes have fully developed and whose prescriptions have stabilized (typically by their early to mid-20s) tend to experience the longest-lasting LASIK results.
- Prescription Stability: Your vision should remain stable for at least one year before LASIK to ensure optimal, lasting outcomes. We look at your eye history going back 2-3 years.
- Overall Eye Health: Conditions such as dry eye syndrome or diabetes can impact results, which is why we conduct a thorough pre-operative evaluation to ensure your candidacy.
- Lifestyle and Eye Care: Protecting your eyes from harmful UV light and maintaining regular comprehensive eye examinations helps preserve your excellent results.
What About Long-Term Vision and Aging?
It’s important to know that your eyes, like the rest of your body, will naturally change over time; this may affect your long-term vision after LASIK.
- Presbyopia. Typically starting after age 40, many people experience presbyopia, a natural stiffening of the eye’s internal lens that makes near vision blurry. This is a normal and expected part of aging that affects everyone, regardless of whether they’ve had LASIK.
- Cataracts. Usually developing after age 60, cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. While unrelated to your LASIK procedure, they are also a common age-related condition that can gradually impact vision clarity.
Should your vision shift with age due to conditions like presbyopia or cataracts, our internationally recognized team at Florida Eye Custom Vision provides advanced, personalized solutions that can help.
- For presbyopia, we offer procedures like Monovision LASIK, which customizes each eye for different focal points, often reducing your need for reading glasses.
- If you develop cataracts, we specialize in Laser Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) that permanently replace your clouded natural lens, allowing you to experience clear vision again, even decades after your initial LASIK.
Did You Know? Our commitment to your vision goes far beyond LASIK, with advanced technology and lifelong expertise, we’re here to help you see clearly at every stage of life. Learn more on our Aging Vision Care Page.
Book In & Find Clear, Long-Lasting Vision At Florida Eye Custom Vision
LASIK is a permanent, safe, and effective vision correction solution that can give you a lifetime of visual clarity and freedom. At Florida Eye Custom Vision, our internationally recognized surgeons and supportive team combine decades of expertise with the latest bladeless laser technology to deliver exceptional, personalized results—right here in Jacksonville, FL.
Book your LASIK appointment online or call us at (904) 268-3937 to speak with our friendly, knowledgeable team.