Can You Get Laser Eye Surgery Twice?

Laser Eye Surgery is one of the most popular elective surgeries in the world. It can correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and it can even help eliminate your dependence on glasses and contact lenses! 

 

But once you’ve had laser eye surgery, can you get the procedure done again if your vision changes? Let’s find out! 

 

Most Patients Only Need LASIK Once

The answer to this question depends on what type of vision problem you have and how long ago you had your first laser eye surgery. If your vision has not changed significantly since then, chances are that a second round of laser eye surgery may not be necessary. 

 

Though unlikely, if your vision does change over time, a second round of laser eye surgery might be an option for you. This is called a vision correction enhancement.

LASIK isn’t wearing off, Your Eyes Are Aging

Because LASIK permanently reshapes your cornea, it does not ‘wear off’.  However, eventually, age-related changes in the lenses of your eyes will occur. These changes are called presbyopia, and they are caused by the stiffening of your natural lens over time. 

 

This stiffness makes it more difficult for the eye muscles to move around or change shape, which makes focusing on close objects more challenging—even if you had perfect vision before. Presbyopia usually occurs between 40-50 years old and affects almost everyone at some point in life. 

 

Presbyopia affects everyone differently; while some may experience a slight decline in near vision, others may find themselves needing bifocals or progressive lenses to read up close again. 

 

Even though presbyopia is an inevitable part of aging, there are treatments available to help improve one’s near vision once again! Your surgeon might suggest different options such as blended LASIK, or Refractive Lens Exchange with customized lenses for each eye. 

Reasons For Needing a Secondary LASIK Surgery

In conclusion, yes – it is possible to get laser eye surgery twice, but only if necessary! Your doctor will be able to assess whether this procedure is right for you based on your current vision and medical history. 

 

Be sure to talk to one of our doctors about not only the benefits of LASIK, but also any risks of LASIK that may pertain to your individual needs and circumstances.