Does LASIK Last Forever?

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is a surgical procedure that Dr. Ming Wang and Dr. Josh Frenkel use to improve their patients’ vision in Nashville, TN. At Wang Vision Institute, we use this surgery to reshape the tissue in the front portion of the eye, which repairs different vision problems. However, most people’s vision worsens over time during the aging process. Unfortunately, LASIK can’t stop this, so vision may become blurry again as someone gets older. How long these changes occur after a LASIK surgery will depend on your age at the time of surgery and whether or not you have a history of other progressive eye conditions.

What is LASIK?

When light hits the cornea, the outer layer of the eye, it bends so it is focused on the retina, which is found in the back of the eye. This refraction, sometimes, doesn’t occur correctly and leads to blurry vision. This is known as a refractive error.

LASIK can correct three different refractive errors:

Astigmatism: This is caused by an imperfection in the shape of the front of your eye
Nearsightedness or myopia: This occurs when the vision is sharp when looking at something close, but is blurry for items far away
Farsightedness or hyperopia: This happens when vision is great when looking at objects far away, but blurry for things that are close

With LASIK, the goal is to correct a patient’s vision so they no longer need glasses or contacts to see things near or far.

Am I a good candidate for LASIK?

One of our experienced ophthalmologists in Nashville, TN, Dr. Wang or Dr. Frenkel, can thoroughly examine your eyes at a LASIK evaluation to determine if you’re a candidate for LASIK surgery. A candidate must be 18 years or older and have enough corneal thickness since this is what is manipulated during this eye surgery.

About 3-D Soft-Touch LASIK laser vision surgery

Our doctors at Wang Vision Institute, Dr. Wang and Dr. Frenkel, have the necessary training, skills, and experience to perform this laser vision surgery. We are the first center in the state of Tennessee to offer Soft-Touch LASIK, which uses less than 1/3 of the pressure on the eye than traditional LASIK. This provides a more comfortable experience for our patients. This type of LASIK surgery is much faster and almost pain-free, and it has proven long-lasting results. At Wang Vision Institute, our goal is to help our patients live their lives with the clearest vision possible.

We use the latest techniques and tools to maximize the results of laser vision correction surgery. Unlike traditional LASIK surgery, which is performed using a microscope, 3-D Soft-Touch LASIK uses 3-D image-guided technology to give Dr. Wang and Dr. Frenkel a better view of the eye. This allows our doctors to carry out LASIK surgery with increased accuracy, improving the outcome of laser vision correction surgery.

Typically, this surgery takes about ten minutes. First, the patient’s eyes are numbed. Next, we use a suction device over each eye to keep the patient from blinking. A laser is used to create a thin corneal flap that is pulled upward and the laser recontours the corneal tissue underneath. Once the surgery is completed, the flap is moved back into place and the patient heals on their own and does not need stitches. Most of our patients have clear vision just one day after their LASIK surgery.

How long does LASIK last?

LASIK usually corrects vision and removes any imperfections of the cornea. This is what improves a patient’s vision. Yes, your eyes can change over your lifetime; however, your vision will never go back to what it was before LASIK. Presbyopia is when the cornea loses its ability to focus on things close by and can begin as early as age 40. However, this condition will only require reading glasses, at best, and not prescription glasses or contact lens. For patients whose vision changes significantly, a LASIK enhancement can be performed. This surgery will help these patients maintain excellent vision.

Learn more about how LASIK can help your vision

At Wang Vision Institute, Dr. Ming Wang and Dr. Josh Frenkel, offer laser vision correction surgery to their patients in Nashville, TN. During a LASIK evaluation, they can determine if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Our team uses the latest techniques and technologies to ensure a comfortable and successful result. To learn more about LASIK and our laser vision correction surgery, call our office for more information. We currently offer online consultations with potential candidates for LASIK surgery.