Does Laser Eye Surgery Last a Lifetime?

LASIK surgery is a permanent procedure that can correct vision and provide long-term benefits. While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits may diminish over time. Most patients experience long-term satisfaction with their vision after 10 years. However, any underlying condition, such as presbyopia, that progresses over time can cause changes in vision, making the original LASIK procedure less effective.

Laser eye surgery permanently adjusts the shape of the eyes so that they can focus light correctly. It is not possible to treat future visual problems with laser eye surgery, but procedures such as LASIK allow patients to permanently correct their eye prescription. The effects of laser eye surgery last forever, and in most cases, patients remain satisfied with their vision after 10 years. Laser augmentation surgery involves reshaping the cornea to correct refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia (the need to wear reading glasses).

LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgery correct your vision so you can stop depending on eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct myopia or farsightedness. There is a small degree of risk in all surgical procedures, including LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgery. Certain factors contribute to answering the question of “how long does LASIK eye surgery last”, such as age and changes in vision, such as presbyopia or astigmatism. To ensure that laser eye surgery is effective and that the result is long lasting, your prescription should remain stable and ideally unchanged over the last two years before the procedure is performed.

As for the long-term results of LASIK eye surgery, visual fluctuations can occur as a result of eye changes over time. In the vast majority of cases, laser eye surgery is a permanent vision correction option for patients. It's normal for all people to experience visual problems as they age, regardless of whether or not they've had laser eye surgery. So while your LASIK results don't change after 10 years, your eyes can.