Will I be able to get rid of my reading glasses forever? What can I expect?”
What improvements to your vision can you expect from presbyopia laser eye surgery?
Presbyopia laser eye surgery is a type of LASIK surgery called LASIK monovision. LASIK monovision corrects one eye to see distances well while it corrects the other to see near objects well. The brain effortlessly selects which image you want to see at each moment, so you experience good near and distance vision. Besides treating presbyopia, presbyopia laser eye surgery can also address refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism so that you may be able to see well without glasses or even reading glasses.
In general, studies show that the majority of patients who have any kind of LASIK surgery are satisfied with the results. In a recent study, about 97% of LASIK patients said they would recommend it to a friend or relative.
Of course, the outcome of your own presbyopia treatment will depend on many personal factors. Your age, health and degree of refractive error, as well as the technology used and experience level of your surgeon will all affect the results of your procedure.
For more information about typical LASIK outcomes for people who are nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatic, visit LASIK Surgery, Outcomes.
For most people, the brain adjusts quickly to monovision. Your brain selects the image you want to see at each moment, so you can see near, intermediate and far objects clearly. Sometimes your eyes and brain may need a little time to get used to the change after surgery and you may need to practice and strengthen your vision at various distances.
Some patients know they are good candidates for monovision because they’ve had it before-with contact lenses. Those who have not experienced monovision before are recommended to try it in advance of surgery with special contact lenses, to confirm they will be able to adjust easily.
For suggestions for strengthening your near, intermediate and distance vision after presbyopia laser eye surgery, visit presbyopia laser vision correction, post-operative care and recovery.
Following any laser eye surgery, it is normal to experience short-term symptoms that are usually minor and don’t affect your daily activities. These side effects are treatable and tend to get better by themselves in time. They may include temporary night vision symptoms such as glare, halos or starbursts around lights. You may also experience temporary dry eye-your doctor may prescribe artificial tears to relieve dry eye symptoms.
Dry eye and night vision symptoms occur as a normal part of the healing process and usually diminish and disappear over the course of a few weeks or months, as vision stabilizes.
It can take up to six months for your eyes to heal and reach their best quality of vision. Depending on how your eye heals, it is possible you will have a small amount of refractive error after laser eye surgery, called an undercorrection or overcorrection. Occasional use of glasses, reading glasses or a touch-up LASIK procedure (also called an enhancement) may be needed to obtain your best corrected vision.
The latest technologies-Wavefront-guided and Wavefront-optimized LASIK-have been shown to deliver the clearest vision and fewest night vision symptoms and are least likely to require a touch-up procedure.
(Visit presbyopia laser vision correction, post-operative care and recovery for more information about possible side effects and rare complications.)
While most people are very happy with the results of presbyopia treatment with laser eye surgery, your decision whether or not to have presbyopia laser vision correction depends on your unique health considerations and other factors, including costs. Learn more about the costs of presbyopia laser vision surgery.
Not sure what a particular term means? Click on words in bold to pull up the glossary tab.
After their eyes have healed, most patients who have laser vision correction do not need to wear glasses for their daily activities.
Laser vision correction is a surgical procedure that permanently removes corneal tissue to reshape the eye in order to improve refraction. The physical results are permanent. However, eyes can still change or possibly regress over time. Also, laser vision correction does not prevent cataracts, a common vision problem that many people develop later in life.
Astigmatism
Common vision problem and type of refractive error. Caused by either irregularity in the curvature of the cornea or the lens of the eye. People with astigmatism generally have difficulty seeing fine details at all distances. Treated with corrective lenses, laser vision correction or toric IOLs.
Close or near vision
Vision that allows you to see objects close up well, sometimes called “reading vision.”
Distance vision
Vision that allows you to see objects far away.
Dry eye
A syndrome characterized by corneal dryness due to deficient tear production. Often related to hormonal changes, local atmospheric conditions and many other causes. Approximately 42 million Americans experience this condition.
Farsighted, farsightedness (or hyperopia)
Common vision problem and type of refractive error. Caused by too little curvature of the cornea or too little distance between the front of the eye and the retina at the back. Both structural defects cause light entering the eye to focus incorrectly on the retina, resulting in blurred close-up vision. Treated with corrective lenses, laser vision correction or multifocal or accommodative IOLs.
Glare
Appearance of additional luster around lights that can interfere with vision, especially night vision. Sometimes occurs as a side effect of LASIK surgery and often decreases with time. May also be caused by cataracts or other eye conditions.
Halos
Appearance of rings around lights at night. Sometimes occur as a side effect of LASIK surgery and often decreases with time. May also be caused by cataracts or other eye conditions.
LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) surgery
Type of laser surgery in which the cornea is reshaped to improve vision. Either a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser is used to surgically create a thin, hinged flap of corneal tissue. The flap is folded back, and an excimer laser is directed to the corneal surface exposed beneath the flap to reshape the cornea for corrected vision. Then the flap is brought back into place.
Monovision
Vision correction that eliminates need for bifocals or reading glasses by correcting one eye for clear distance vision and the other for clear up-close vision. The brain combines the two images to create clear vision at all distances.
Nearsighted, nearsightedness (or myopia)
Common vision problem and type of refractive error. Caused by either too much curvature of the cornea or too much distance between the front of the eye and the retina at the back. Both structural defects cause light entering the eye to focus incorrectly on the retina, resulting in blurred distance vision. Treated with corrective lenses, laser vision correction or multifocal or accommodative IOLs.
Overcorrection
When the change to refractive error after refractive surgery exceeds the attempted correction.
Presbyopia
Also called age-related focus dysfunction. Common vision problem that develops naturally over time. Characterized by loss of the eye's ability to focus at close distances or on fine details. Treated with reading glasses, contact lenses, presbyopia laser vision correction (also called LASIK monovision) or presbyopia lens replacement surgery.
Refractive error
Irregularities in the cornea, lens or shape of the eye that prevent correct focus at any distance.
Starbursts
Appearance of rays or fine filaments of light coming off a light source, such as a headlight of a car. Can become longer and denser at night. Severity of starbursts varies-they may be experienced differently in terms of size, shape, length of rays, the density of rays and transparency (whether the light source is visible through the starburst). Sometimes occur as a side effect of LASIK surgery and often decreases with time. May also be caused by cataracts or other eye conditions
Undercorrection
When the desired change to refractive error is not fully achieved after refractive surgery.
Wavefront-guided LASIK
Also called custom LASIK. Creates a personalized map of existing higher order aberrations to correct refractive error and these more subtle vision problems. In some cases, existing higher order aberrations are severe enough to require this special treatment.
Wavefront-optimized LASIK
Newer LASIK technology that corrects refractive errors while accounting for both the natural curvature of the eye and the unique characteristics of each individual's eye. Has less risk of inducing higher order aberrations than conventional LASIK
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The Eye Surgery Education Council provides information and support to help patients and their families make an informed decision about the different types of vision surgery. Developed by members of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the ESEC is backed by the knowledge and expertise of some of the nation’s leading ophthalmologists.
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This site is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Individuals should decide whether to have LASIK, Lens Surgery or Cataract Surgery based on consultations and advice of their eye surgeon and full discussion of the benefits and risk of the procedure. While LASIK, Lens Surgery and Cataract Surgery are generally considered to be safe and effective procedures in correcting vision, individual results may vary.
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