Can laser eye surgery correct both near and distance vision?

Many people struggle to see clearly both up close and far away. If you’ve worn glasses for years or noticed your vision changing, you might be wondering if laser eye surgery can fix both.

The short answer? In many cases, yes depending on your prescription, age, and eye health.

In this blog, we’ll explain:

• The differences between near and distance vision problems
• What laser surgery can correct
• What procedures are available
• Who might be suitable

Understanding vision problems

Short-sightedness (myopia) makes it difficult to see things far away. Long-sightedness (hyperopia) makes it hard to see things up close.

Some people have one. Others have both.

It’s common to develop different types of focusing issues as you age, even if you had perfect vision when you were younger.

Can laser eye surgery correct both?

Yes laser eye surgery can correct both short- and long-sightedness in many patients. It works by reshaping the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) to help focus light correctly on the retina.

Depending on your eyes, you may be a candidate for:

• LASIK: Uses a laser to reshape the cornea after creating a thin flap
• LASEK: Involves gently loosening the surface layer before reshaping
• TransPRK: A no-touch version of LASEK, where the laser works directly on the surface

These procedures can treat a range of prescriptions, including those with mild astigmatism.

Are there limits to what laser surgery can fix?

Laser surgery can correct:

• Short-sightedness up to around -10.00 dioptres
• Long-sightedness up to around +4.00 dioptres
• Astigmatism up to 6.00 dioptres

However, suitability depends on many factors:

• Your corneal thickness
• Stability of your prescription
• General eye health

That’s why we always do a full consultation before recommending treatment.

What if I have both near and distance issues?

If you're under 40 and have both short- and long-sightedness, it may be possible to fully correct your vision with laser eye surgery.

If you're older and starting to notice problems with reading or up-close tasks, this is likely due to age-related lens changes (not just a corneal issue). Laser eye surgery might still help, but in some cases lens-based options may be more suitable. We can help advise on this.

Is the result permanent?

Laser eye surgery permanently reshapes your cornea. But your eyes can still change over time. Some people may need reading glasses or a mild enhancement later in life.

That said, many people enjoy years or even decades of glasses-free vision after surgery.

What about astigmatism?

Laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism too. We use advanced scans to map your cornea and design a treatment plan that smooths out the uneven shape causing blurry vision.

Take the next step

Laser eye surgery can help reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses even if you struggle with both distance and near vision.

Take our suitability self-test to find out if you’re a candidate.