How Long Do LASIK Surgery Results Last?

At some point, you may find that for whatever reason your vision is not as great as you’d like it to be. Perhaps it is blurry at close range, or you have difficulty making out far-away objects. Regardless of the problem, though, there are treatments that you can pursue to substantially boost your quality of life. One of these treatments is LASIK surgery.

However, considering that it’s an irreversible surgery, it can be intimidating, particularly when you don’t know how long the treatment will last for, and whether it’s worth it for your eye conditions.

We can say for a fact that it almost certainly is a worthwhile treatment, and as you’ll soon see, one that lasts for as long as you need it to. So, read on if you want to find out more, including what is involved in this procedure.

What to Expect After LASIK

First, though, let’s tackle the issues that can crop up rapidly and cause unnecessary concern if you’re not aware of what’s happening.

Some of the most likely symptoms after the procedure include blurry and hazy vision, dry, itchy eyes, visual noise like double vision, glare, or halos, and sensitivity to light. While this can seem troubling, the fact is that these symptoms usually improve over the following weeks to months, and are not necessarily signs of anything having gone wrong.

It is important, however, that you don’t disturb your eye, meaning you shouldn’t rub or poke it because this can affect the healing process and reshaping of your eye.

Once these hurdles have been cleared, you can most often expect to not need contacts or glasses any more. However, if your vision isn’t fully fixed, you may still find you need them occasionally for things like reading and driving.

How long will the results last?

It’s important to remember that LASIK permanently and irrevocably reshapes your eyeball. That’s the mechanism of action through which it operates. By doing so, it’s able to create changes that are more or less permanent for the entirety of your life.

Still, your eyesight will change with the passing of time. Your vision will not remain sharp forever, even though the physical changes will stay in effect for that long. LASIK isn’t magic, and won’t stop the process of normal aging.

For instance, most people in their 40s find that they need reading glasses because of reduced near sight due to presbyopia. This condition is almost inevitable and can’t be fixed by LASIK.

However, this doesn’t mean that the procedure is not worth it. It will permanently make your vision better than what it might have been, and you don’t have to worry about the results fading or changing over time.

If you’re on board with that, let’s next discuss exactly what the procedure is and what it entails.

What is LASIK?

To understand how LASIK works, you need to know how your eye functions. Basically, light transfers itself through the outer layer of your eye (the cornea) and bends around so it eventually goes right to the retina at the back of your eyeball. This process is called refraction.

For a multitude of reasons, this light might not bend in the most correct or accurate way, meaning your vision is blurrier than it should be. This is known in the business as a refractive error and is what LASIK seeks to correct.

Specifically, if you have nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, then the LASIK procedure can take advantage of lasers and small blades to reshape your warped cornea. Once this procedure is done, the light is no longer incorrectly refracting, and instead focuses accurately on the retina at the back of your eye.

The results from LASIK are clear and sharp vision at both close and long-range. The goal with this procedure, then, is to remove the need for glasses or contacts of any kind, and it works more often than not.

How much does it cost?

Another big hurdle to people wanting to undertake this procedure is just its sheer cost. We won’t lie; the average cost of LASIK factors in at about $4,200, though it’s possible it could be less.

This cost, though, includes a lot in it, including pre-op evaluations and post-op check-ups and exams, in addition to the base procedure.

In some instances, it might even include a follow-up LASIK enhancement procedure where more is done to correct your vision if too little is done initially.

Unfortunately, despite how vital eyesight is to normal and happy everyday living, for most insurance companies, the procedure is still considered elective and thus generally isn’t covered as much as it should be. Still, if you can swing the cost, which sometimes can include extended payment plans, you may find that it’s within your budget and a definitely worthwhile purchase.

Closing Thoughts

LASIK is a permanent procedure. While it can’t stop the inevitable effects of age and presbyopia, it can correct the refractive errors that you’re currently dealing with to a high degree of success. No matter what, your eye will be permanently reshaped to be more accurate and sharper than it ever was in the past.

The big obstacle for some people may be the cost, but we can guarantee you that this is a procedure that satisfies and changes your perception on a deep level. 

Hopefully, you now understand the appeal of LASIK surgery. With long-lasting results and a minimally invasive treatment, it’s a treatment that’s well worth pursuing if you’re having difficulty using your eyes for normal tasks.

If you’re interested in LASIK in Toronto, reach out to us at the Clearview Vision Institute. We offer a trained team of professionals who know exactly what they need to do to help you live your best life. For more information, call us at 647-493-6371 or via our contact page here.