Is laser eye surgery permanent?

This is a very common question.

Laser eye surgery involves reshaping the cornea to correct a refractive error (e.g. short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism). During laser eye surgery, a laser is used to remove a pre-determined amount of tissue and once the tissue is removed, it cannot grow back. Therefore, the result of a laser vision correction procedure is permanent.

Why do people think laser eye surgery isn’t permanent?

Around the age of 45 years, people will begin to suffer from age-related loss of near vision. This condition, called presbyopia, is a natural part of ageing. However, it has nothing to do with the shape of the cornea. Presbyopia happens because the muscles surrounding the lens of the eye begin to weaken.

So, while the answer to the question ‘is laser eye surgery permanent?’ is yes, even patients who have had laser eye surgery cannot escape the eventual onset of presbyopia. The good news is that there are procedures to correct presbyopia as well, including lens replacement and a blended vision solution.

For more information about laser eye surgery, click here.