One of the reasons people don’t seriously consider having LASIK is because they are under the misperception that the results of the vision correction don’t last and that most people need to have repeat the procedure in order to keep their vision sharp. The reality is LASIK delivers excellent vision for a lifetime. LASIK corrects vision by reshaping the cornea, correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. LASIK corrects the patient’s vision errors that are present at the time of the procedure, permanently.
Using today’s most advanced technologies and with patients that are very good LASIK candidates, the retreatment rate for patients within the first year after the procedure is approximately 1-2 percent – which is very low.
So will you need reading glasses if you have LASIK?
Eventually, yes. But, just about everyone does at some point in their lives. The need for reading glasses is generally age-related. It is a condition called presbyopia and it usually starts sometime between your 40s and 50s. LASIK doesn’t help you avoid presbyopia, nor does it make it worse. The nature of presbyopia is one of the reasons I recommend patients choose to have LASIK as soon as they can – provided they are good candidates – so they can enjoy excellent vision without needed glasses or contacts for as long as possible.
Is LASIK Right for You?
As long as you are a good candidate for LASIK, which includes having a stable vision prescription for more than a year, you can be very confident of enjoying the benefits of LASIK for years to come. To find out if you are a candidate, schedule a consultation at Kugler Vision or call 402.558.2211 for a thorough evaluation of your eye health and vision. You can learn more about LASIK and other vision correction procedures here from the American Refractive Surgery Council.
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
