I need reading glasses, did my LASIK wear off?

I had LASIK laser vision correction a few years back.  Why is it, that now I need reading glasses? Does LASIK wear off?

The correct answer is no. It didn’t wear off, that’s not how it works. LASIK and its predecessor, PRK improve your vision by making permanent changes to your cornea, the transparent layer that forms the front of your eyes.

If you find you now have a need for reading glasses, the likely culprit isn’t your corneas, but changes to your lenses, located at the back of your eyes. These changes occur as we age and are completely normal and natural. Presbyopia or “Over 40 Vision,” as it is sometimes called, will impact all of us, eventually, even those of us with prior LASIK.  Symptoms include a noticeable difference in your ability to make out small details in low light, or while driving at night, and generally blurry vision when reading things up close.

On the bright side, you don’t have to live with the constant on and off of reading glasses, or feel like you need to avoid driving at night. There are treatment options available. Work together with your doctor to explore the best option for your unique eyes.

One option available is called Clear Lens Replacement or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE.)  What is RLE, you ask?  As we age, the lenses in our eyes become less flexible and in turn, less clear.  As the name implies, an RLE procedure involves exchanging your eye’s existing lenses with biocompatible engineered lenses, thus returning you to the crisp, clear vision you likely enjoyed in your early 30s. As an added benefit, RLE also prevents the formation of cataracts.

No, your LASIK didn’t wear off. You’re simply dealing with the natural complications that go along with aging.  Don’t fret! There are solutions available, so ditch the reading glasses and give us a call today or schedule an appointment here!

…ok, maybe wait to ditch the reading glasses until after treatment, you get what we mean.