Nearsightedness and farsightedness are common eye problems. These problems have traditionally been treated using eyeglasses or contact lenses. For those who don’t wish to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, LASIK surgery may be an option to correct their sight.
LASIK surgery has been around for a while. It’s an elective, minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses a laser to correct farsightedness, nearsightedness, and other kinds of refractive errors. Millions of people around the world have achieved 20/20 vision after undergoing a LASIK surgery procedure.
LASIK eye surgery provides many benefits over wearing glasses and contact lenses. The vast majority of LASIK patients achieve their desired vision following the procedure. This includes better day and night vision. There is little to no discomfort (no bandages or stitches are required) and a short recovery period. You’ll also save money on glasses and contacts.
What Is LASIK Enhancement Surgery?
In most cases, patients experience excellent results after their LASIK procedure. In rare cases, patients may need a follow-up procedure to further sharpen their vision. It may also be the case that, several years after surgery, changes to the eyes due to age or other conditions may cause patients to pursue a follow-up procedure. This follow-up is known as LASIK enhancement surgery.
LASIK enhancement is the same as the regular LASIK treatment procedure. The recovery process is similar as well. It’s important for patients to follow their LASIK eye surgeon’s instructions to achieve the desired outcome and avoid complications.
Do I Need LASIK Enhancement Surgery for Aged-Related Changes in Vision?
Our eyes change over the years. Even after a successful LASIK procedure, your eyes may develop refractive errors due to the aging process.
Presbyopia is one of the major reasons older patients choose to undergo LASIK enhancement surgery. Presbyopia is a vision problem in which the lens of the eye thickens and loses its natural flexibility, losing the ability to change its shape on-demand to focus on nearby objects. It is a natural part of the aging process that usually occurs for patients in their 40s or 50s.
While presbyopia doesn’t affect the ability to focus on objects that are far away, it can cause blurry near vision and make it difficult to make out details in low lighting conditions. So patients who underwent a LASIK procedure in their 20s or 30s and are now in their 40s or older may eventually find themselves needing vision correction again to better see nearby objects. LASIK enhancement is typically not the best solution for treating presbyopia.
Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK
What age is best for LASIK?
There isn’t a specific age limit for patients seeking LASIK surgery. Whether you are a good candidate will depend more on whether your vision is stable, what kind of vision and eye conditions you are experiencing, and what vision you desire.
How long does it take to recover from LASIK surgery?
LASIK surgery is done as an out-patient procedure, which means patients will go home the same day as their surgery. It is typical for patients to experience significant improvement in their vision within the first 48 hours of having LASIK. Most patients are able to return to work the day after the procedure.
What types of vision problems can be corrected with LASIK?
LASIK procedures are most often performed on individuals who are either nearsighted, farsighted and/or have astigmatism. Nearsightedness means the patients see close objects clearly, but requires vision correction for distance; farsightedness means that close up objects are fuzzy, but distance vision is clear. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is shaped more oval than round and generally causes a comprehensive blurriness of vision. This condition can be experienced alongside nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Berkeley Eye Center is Houston’s Leading Laser Eye Surgery Clinic
Berkeley Eye Center has been protecting the vision health of patients in Houston and surrounding communities for over 60 years. We’re recognized as one of Texas’ foremost comprehensive eye care providers.
As a leading pioneer in LASIK eye surgery procedures, Berkeley Eye Center’s team of eye care professionals are recognized experts in the field of cataract, refractive and oculoplastic eye surgery.
If you think you might be a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery, or need corrective LASIK enhancement surgery, contact the Berkeley Eye Center via our website, or call us at (713) 526-3937 to schedule an appointment with a Houston LASIK eye surgeon.