Can I Have LASIK Twice?
September 17th, 2019
LASIK gives you the best eyesight by negating the effects of refractive errors. Under certain circumstances, one LASIK procedure may not be enough.
In that case, you may need a LASIK enhancement. This is not common, but it does happen sometimes.
This is not the case for up to 95% of LASIK patients. The overwhelming majority of people who undergo LASIK are satisfied with the results.
Fortunately for the remaining few who aren’t satisfied, LASIK enhancement exist. They are safe and easy, as long as you have enough corneal tissue left to work on.
When LASIK is successful, it’s a permanent procedure. Keep reading to learn about LASIK enhancements and why you would need one!
Why Would I Need an Enhancement?
The success of your LASIK surgery is dependent on many factors. While some side effects after the surgery are typical, they should clear up within a few months.
With many patients, vision improvement is almost immediate. Some patients may have to wait a little longer while their vision stabilizes.
If your eyes were not healthy or stable before LASIK, you have a higher risk of LASIK not being successful. This is why there are such rigorous requirements before you are eligible for LASIK.
You’re also more likely to need an enhancement if you had a severe prescription.
Age also plays a strong factor in your vision. The muscles inside of your eyes become weaker as you get older. After the age of 40, you can expect your vision to become worse.
LASIK cannot prevent this but having a second round of it can give you more years of glasses-free vision.
What If I Can’t Receive an Enhancement?
Just because you don’t have enough tissue for the second round of LASIK doesn’t mean you are out of luck. Other surgeries exist that can serve as a successful alternative to LASIK.
One of the differences that separate these procedures from LASIK is recovery times.
PRK is a very similar surgery to LASIK and is often used in patients with thin corneas. If your corneas are too thin, LASIK is not as safe.
During LASIK, a flap is created in the cornea. During PRK, there is no flap created. Instead, the tissue is completely removed and left to regrow.
Having a corneal flap would allow your eye to reattach the tissue, reducing recovery time. For those with thinner corneas, PRK prevents potential complications.
RLE is another option where the lenses inside of your eyes are removed. They are then replaced with artificial lenses or IOLs.
The premium versions of these lenses give you multi-focusing distance vision. There are several kinds of IOLs available, depending on your lifestyle and needs.
Wondering if you could be a good LASIK candidate? Contact Dr. Danny Lee in Huntsville, AL to set up your LASIK consultation!
Isn’t it time to see the world with clarity and without the encumbrances of glasses and contacts? LASIK can be a life-changing procedure, so why wait any longer to find out if you qualify?
