While most LASIK patients won’t need glasses after surgery, some might still need glasses for the best vision. You might eventually require reading glasses because LASIK does not shield against age-related vision changes.
After having LASIK, you can wear glasses if your vision is unclear. Still, many patients choose an additional LASIK procedure to address any issues the initial surgery did not address.
Millions of people in the United States have improved their eyesight with LASIK, one of the most popular vision correction techniques. This treatment is widely regarded as effective and produces desired results, with about 800,000 treatments annually.
What is LASIK?
LASIK eye surgery is a well-known laser refractive procedure to treat vision issues. LASIK, also known as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is an alternative to glasses or contact lenses. A specialized cutting laser is used during LASIK surgery to alter the shape of the cornea precisely, the clear dome-shaped tissue at the front of your eye, to enhance vision.
In eyes with normal vision, the cornea precisely bends light onto the retina at the back of the eye. However, nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism result in an incorrect bend of the light, which impairs vision. Reshaping the cornea will also result in the necessary refraction, though vision correction with glasses or contact lenses is an option.
What is the need for reading glasses?
Your eyes will naturally begin to change as you age. There are many different ways for this to occur, but one of the most frequent changes is brought on by a condition called “presbyopia.” After the age of 40, it typically makes, people need reading glasses.
What is Presbyopia?
The lens inside your eye, which is situated behind the iris and pupil, is quite flexible when young and flexes when looking at close objects. You can quickly switch your focus between many different ranges thanks to this flexing, also called “accommodation”. Presbyopia occurs when the lens becomes more rigid and can no longer accommodate near vision.
People with presbyopia will notice that once-simple tasks like reading a book, sewing, and reading a grocery store label have become much more challenging. They might notice that they are holding their phone at arm’s length to read a text message. It’s likely that you have presbyopia if this sounds familiar to you.
Does LASIK help to get rid of the need for glasses?
Most patients who undergo LASIK will not require glasses or contact lenses afterwards. To achieve the ideal level of vision, a second treatment may occasionally be required.
Some patients, such as pilots and surgeons, who depend on clear vision for their jobs, may still need the assistance of glasses after treatment. Those who require reading glasses may still require them even after having LASIK.
When are glasses required following LASIK?
The majority of LASIK patients do not require glasses after their procedure. According to studies, patients between the ages of 18 and 46 reported a satisfaction rate of 98.5 per cent, with patients either satisfied or very satisfied with the results of their surgery.
The best candidates for LASIK are over 18 years old and generally have healthy eyes.
Presbyopia, an age-related loss of close-up vision, cannot be treated with LASIK. After age 40, reading glasses are frequently required, even for people with excellent vision.
After LASIK, can you wear contacts?
It is advised for people who wear contact lenses to stop wearing them before the baseline LASIK evaluation and switch to glasses. After wearing contact lenses, your eyes may change shape for a few weeks.
LASIK is a procedure that typically significantly alters the shape of the cornea. As a result, it can frequently be more difficult to fit contact lenses onto the eye after LASIK surgery than it is to do so for a cornea that has yet to undergo the procedure.
Those who have had LASIK might need specialized hybrid or gas-permeable contacts. An eye doctor typically suggests these if you still need to wear contacts after LASIK.
LASIK advantages even if you still need some vision correction
More precisely, better vision is one of the many advantages of LASIK, and the vast majority of patients report having a permanently improved vision. Many LASIK patients report feeling more independent every day and no longer having to worry about wearing glasses or contact lenses to perform routine tasks.
As mentioned, LASIK cannot stop presbyopia, an age-related condition that develops gradually. In such circumstances, people might need to investigate additional vision correction options to address vision loss that develops as people age.
FAQs on glasses after LASIK
After LASIK, do you need to wear glasses?
After LASIK, most people won’t require glasses because the procedure will correct their vision to the desired degree. An improvement or additional LASIK procedure may occur if LASIK does not produce the desired results. Patients may require reading glasses as they age because LASIK cannot stop the decline in vision that comes with ageing.
After LASIK, can you still wear glasses?
After LASIK surgery, patients can still wear their glasses. They will typically need a lower prescription. Some people whose jobs require perfect vision might still need to wear glasses after LASIK to perform necessary functions satisfactorily.
How long after LASIK do you need to wear sunglasses?
Patients should wear sunglasses outside during the day for at least a week following LASIK surgery. As the eyes heal, this helps protect them because they are more vulnerable now.
