Is laser eye surgery permanent?

One of the biggest reasons people choose laser eye surgery is to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. But many ask the same question:

“Is laser eye surgery permanent?”

The short answer? Yes, for most people but with a few important things to understand.

Let’s walk through:

• How laser eye surgery works
• What “permanent” really means
• Why some people may need enhancements later

How laser eye surgery works

Procedures like LASIK, LASEK, and TransPRK reshape the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) so that light focuses properly on your retina.

This correction is permanent. Your cornea won’t return to its original shape.

So if your vision issue was stable before surgery, the results usually last a long time often for decades.

Why some people think it “wears off”

Laser eye surgery doesn’t wear off. But your eyes can change with age.

• In your 40s or 50s, you may develop presbyopia, which affects near vision.
• Later in life, some people develop cataracts.

These are natural age-related changes, not the result of the laser wearing off.

Can I still need glasses later on?

It’s possible. Here’s when you might need them again:

• Reading glasses in your 40s and beyond (due to presbyopia)
• Mild distance correction years later if your eyes change slightly

But even then, your prescription will usually be much lower than before surgery.

What about enhancements?

In some cases, people need a top-up procedure to fine-tune their vision. This is called an enhancement.

Enhancements are more common if:

• You had a high prescription to begin with
• Your eyes were still changing slightly before surgery

At My Eye Clinic, we include enhancement cover as part of your aftercare if it’s needed.

How to get long-lasting results

• Make sure your prescription is stable for at least 12 months
• Protect your eyes from UV exposure
• Attend all follow-up appointments
• Use lubricating eye drops as advised

We’ll give you full aftercare guidance to keep your results on track.

What if I develop other eye conditions later in life?

Laser eye surgery doesn’t stop you from needing treatment for:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Age-related macular degeneration

These are unrelated conditions and can be treated if they arise.

So, is it worth it?

For most patients, laser eye surgery provides years of freedom from glasses or contacts.

Even if you need reading glasses later in life, many people say it was still 100% worth it for the years of clear vision they enjoyed.

Find out if you’re a candidate

Take our suitability self-test, it’s free and only takes a minute.

You’ll find out right away if laser eye surgery could be right for you.