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- What Happens 10 Years After LASIK? Long-Term Results and What to Expect
What Happens 10 Years After LASIK? Long-Term Results and What to Expect
What happens 10 years after LASIK is, for most people, that distance vision stays good. LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea, but the eye keeps ageing: studies show a slight drift back towards short-sightedness in some people, and almost everyone needs reading glasses from their 40s. Rare problems, such as late corneal weakening, persistent dry eye and cataract planning, are worth knowing about. Surgeons including Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram screen for them before surgery.
Does LASIK last 10 years?
LASIK is permanent in the sense that the corneal tissue removed by the laser does not grow back, so the new shape of the cornea stays. It is not a guarantee that your eyes will never change again. In long-term studies, most eyes still see well 10 years later, with a slow drift back towards the original prescription in some, particularly in people who started with higher short-sightedness.
The best evidence comes from groups of patients followed for 10 to 15 years. These patients had earlier-generation LASIK, because the results were published 10 to 15 years after their surgery.
| Study | Follow-up | Eyes treated | What was found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alió et al., American Journal of Ophthalmology 2008 | 10 years | 97 eyes (70 patients), short-sightedness up to −10 D | 73% within ±1.00 D of target and 92% within ±2.00 D; slight regression that slowed over time; no eye developed ectasia |
| Alió et al., American Journal of Ophthalmology 2008 | 10 years | 196 eyes, short-sightedness above −10 D | 42% within ±1.00 D and 61% within ±2.00 D; about 27.5% of eyes were retreated; 2 eyes (1%), both with corrections above 15 D, developed ectasia |
| Ikeda et al., BioMed Research International 2017 | 12 years | 68 eyes (37 patients), −3.00 to −12.75 D | 75% within ±1.00 D and 53% within ±0.50 D; no vision-threatening complications; precision gradually fell because of regression |
| Alió et al., Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery 2015 | 15 years | 40 eyes, high short-sightedness (−6.00 to −18.00 D) | 46% within ±1.00 D; 64% saw 20/40 or better without correction; one eye developed ectasia; significant regression |
D = dioptres, the unit of prescription strength. "Within ±1.00 D" means the eye ended up within one dioptre of the intended result. Figures are from published abstracts (see Sources).
Two things stand out. First, serious complications were rare in all four studies. Second, the higher the starting prescription, the more regression there was at 10 to 15 years. Your own result depends on your eyes, your prescription and your surgeon.
A large review shows how modern outcomes look in the earlier years. Sandoval and colleagues reviewed 97 studies published between 2008 and 2015, covering 67,893 eyes. Across them, 99.5% of eyes saw better than 20/40 without glasses, 98.6% were within ±1.0 D of their target, and 1.2% of patients were dissatisfied. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) points out that the first LASIK laser was approved in 1998, so the very longest-term data are still limited.
Does vision get worse 10 years after LASIK?
Slightly, for some people. This is called regression: a slow drift back towards the original prescription. EyeWiki, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) clinical encyclopedia, reports that in a 12-year follow-up most eyes showed roughly 10% myopic regression, averaging −0.12 D a year for short-sightedness up to −10 D and −0.25 D a year above −10 D. In a 15-year study, eyes that began at about −9.5 D had drifted by a mean of −1.66 D.
In the 12-year study by Ikeda and colleagues, regression went hand in hand with the cornea becoming steeper again. In the 15-year study by Alió, a thinner starting cornea and less tissue left behind the flap predicted this steepening. This is one reason a careful surgeon measures your corneal thickness and does not remove more tissue than the eye can safely spare.
Other reasons your vision can change after 10 years have nothing to do with the laser:
- Presbyopia, the age-related stiffening of the natural lens (next section)
- Cataract, clouding of the natural lens, which develops later in life
- Dry eye, which blurs vision on and off
If your vision seems blurrier, the cause is not always LASIK. An eye examination tells you which it is.
Will I need reading glasses 10 years after LASIK?
Very likely, if you were in your 30s when you had it, and it is not a LASIK failure. LASIK corrects distance vision. The AAO states that LASIK cannot treat presbyopia and that almost everyone with excellent distance vision will need reading glasses after around age 40. The FDA also warns that people may still need reading glasses after LASIK even if they did not need them before.
What matters is your age at surgery. This is an illustration built on the AAO's age-40 statement, not a prediction for your eyes:
| Your age at surgery | What to expect 10 years later |
|---|---|
| Early 20s | You will be in your early 30s; reading glasses typically arrive around 40, as for everyone else |
| Early to mid 30s | You will be around 40 to 45; reading glasses are likely by then |
| Late 30s to 40s | Reading glasses are very likely within the 10 years; ask your surgeon about options before surgery |
Presbyopia is also why LASIK is not the best choice for everyone from the mid-40s. If you are close to that age, ask your surgeon about lens surgery as an alternative.
Can dry eyes and halos come back years after LASIK?
For most people they do not. Dry eye is the most common LASIK side effect, but it is mainly an early one. About 60–70% of people have signs of dry eye in the early weeks, and it usually settles within 3–12 months. Halos and glare tend to stabilise 3 to 6 months after surgery, according to EyeWiki.
A minority are different:
- A review in Community Eye Health says corneal nerve re-growth can be delayed by 2 to 5 years.
- A review by Nettune and Pflugfelder concluded that symptoms persisting beyond 9 months rarely respond satisfactorily to traditional treatment and need more aggressive management.
- The FDA warns that severe dry eye after LASIK may be permanent, and that glare, halos and double vision may persist, which matters most for night driving.
If you are 10 years out and still have gritty, burning or fluctuating vision, a proper dry-eye assessment is worthwhile. Dry eye can also have causes unrelated to surgery, such as ageing, screen use or medicines, and many of them are treatable.
Can LASIK cause problems 10 years later? Late ectasia
Rarely. The most serious long-term risk is ectasia, a progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea that distorts vision. Community Eye Health reports that it occurs in between 0.04% and 0.5% of patients and may appear months to years after laser vision correction. A study of 30,167 LASIK eyes followed for 2 to 8 years found an incidence of 0.033%; the common risk factors were thin corneas, irregular corneal maps and a low residual stromal bed (the tissue left behind the flap).
In the 10–15-year studies above, ectasia occurred in 0 of 97 eyes, 2 of 196 eyes and 1 of 40 eyes, and the affected eyes were in the high-prescription groups. The risk is small but not zero, and screening is not perfect.
Warning signs to report:
- vision slowly getting worse, especially if glasses no longer fully correct it
- increasing astigmatism or ghosting of images
- needing a new glasses prescription again and again within a short time
Ectasia is diagnosed with corneal imaging (topography). If you notice these changes, see a corneal specialist promptly rather than waiting for your next routine test. Our cornea surgeon is Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer (Doç. means Associate Professor), who treats keratoconus and other corneal disease and speaks Turkish and English.
Can I have cataract surgery after LASIK?
Yes, and many people do. Cataract surgery works as normal after LASIK, but calculating the right lens power is harder. Standard formulas assume a cornea that has not been reshaped. EyeWiki explains that after LASIK, standard keratometry underestimates the refractive correction, which can lead to an underpowered lens and a short-sighted result. Specialised methods exist, including methods that use your pre-LASIK readings, direct measurement of both corneal surfaces, and the online calculator of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). Even so, EyeWiki advises warning patients with previous refractive surgery that they may need a correction after cataract surgery.
Keep your records. The AAO recommends keeping a "K card" with your pre- and post-LASIK measurements, because a surgeon may need them for later eye surgery. Ask your LASIK surgeon for:
- your prescription before surgery
- your corneal curvature (keratometry) readings before and after surgery
- the date and type of surgery
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram perform cataract surgery as well as laser surgery, and the clinic gives you your surgical records to keep ({{records handed to the patient: confirm what is supplied}}).
What eye checks do I need after LASIK?
Having LASIK does not remove the need for routine eye checks, and a few things deserve attention:
A comprehensive eye examination
at the interval your optometrist or ophthalmologist suggests, and sooner if your vision changes.
Eye pressure and glaucoma checks
Always tell any eye professional that you had LASIK. Research on glaucoma patients with a history of laser refractive surgery notes that corneal characteristics need to be taken into account when eye pressure is measured.
The retina
The NHS lists a detached retina among the possible complications of laser eye surgery, and says that people who are short-sighted are at higher risk of retinal detachment. Sudden floaters, flashes of light, a dark curtain moving across your vision or sudden blurring need urgent care the same day (in the UK, the NHS advises contacting NHS 111).
A dry-eye review
if you have ongoing symptoms.
Can LASIK be repeated after 10 years?
Sometimes. The AAO says that under- or over-corrections often can be improved with glasses, contact lenses or additional laser surgery. In the 10-year study of eyes above −10 D, about 27.5% had been retreated. Whether you are a candidate depends on how much tissue is left, how thick the cornea is and whether it is stable.
Retreatment is a surgeon's decision, made from scans of your cornea, not just from your wish to be glasses-free. Our guide explains how it works.
How can you protect your results for the next 10 years?
Most of the long-term picture is set before surgery. A thorough pre-operative examination includes:
- corneal topography and thickness measurement, to rule out keratoconus and thin corneas and to decide how much tissue can safely be treated
- a tear-film and dry-eye assessment, so dryness is treated first
- pupil size and the full prescription history, to plan the treatment zone
- an honest conversation about your age, because presbyopia will arrive whichever laser procedure you choose
The AAO lists severe dry eye, thin corneas, corneal disease and keratoconus among the reasons a person is not a candidate for LASIK. Depending on your results, your surgeon may recommend SMILE, a surface treatment such as PRK, or no laser at all. For the complete safety picture, read our guide on whether laser eye surgery is 100% safe.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for most people. The reshaping of the cornea is permanent. In studies following patients for 10 years, most eyes were still within 1 dioptre of their target, with slight regression in some, mainly those who began with high short-sightedness. Natural ageing changes such as presbyopia still happen.
LASIK itself does not make vision decline, but a slow regression can occur: about −0.12 D a year for prescriptions up to −10 D, according to EyeWiki, and more for very high prescriptions. Reading vision changes in your 40s regardless. See an eye specialist if your sight changes noticeably.
Long-term risks are uncommon. They include ectasia (0.04–0.5% in a published review), persistent dry eye, and persisting glare or halos in a small minority. The FDA notes that severe dry eye after LASIK may be permanent. Careful pre-operative screening aims to reduce all of these.
Probably, from your 40s. LASIK does not treat presbyopia, and the AAO says almost everyone with excellent distance vision needs reading glasses after around age 40. This happens with or without LASIK.
Yes. The lens power is just harder to calculate because LASIK changes the shape of the cornea. Keep your pre- and post-LASIK measurements and tell your cataract surgeon you had LASIK, so that specialised methods can be used. You may need a small correction afterwards.
It does not wear off in the way people usually mean. The corneal reshaping stays, but some eyes drift slightly back towards their old prescription over many years, and the changes of ageing continue. In one 15-year study of high-prescription eyes, 46% were still within ±1 D of their target.
Dryness caused by the surgery usually settles within months, though a minority have longer-lasting symptoms. Dry eye can also appear years later for other reasons such as ageing, screens or medicines. A dry-eye assessment finds the cause.
Often, if the cornea is thick enough and stable. Your surgeon checks your corneal scans and decides. Some people are better suited to lens surgery or a different procedure instead.
Yes, and you should tell every eye professional you had LASIK. It can affect how eye pressure is read and how lens power is calculated for cataract surgery, and the NHS notes that short-sighted people are at higher risk of retinal detachment.
Thinking about LASIK, or about a check on a result from years ago?
Your surgeon at Laser Istanbul Clinic measures your cornea, tear film and pupils before recommending LASIK, SMILE Pro or PRK, and tells you honestly if laser is not right for your eyes. Laser surgery is led by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram, in a fully equipped, Ministry of Health–licensed operating theatre in Istanbul.
Sources for the facts on this page
- Alió JL, Muftuoglu O, Ortiz D, et al. Ten-year follow-up of laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia of up to −10 diopters. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2008;145(1):46–54. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18154754/
- Alió JL, Muftuoglu O, Ortiz D, et al. Ten-year follow-up of laser in situ keratomileusis for high myopia. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17996210/
- Ikeda T, Shimizu K, Igarashi A, Kasahara S, Kamiya K. Twelve-year follow-up of laser in situ keratomileusis for moderate to high myopia. BioMed Research International 2017. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5449750/
- Alió JL, Soria F, Abbouda A, Peña-García P. Laser in situ keratomileusis for −6.00 to −18.00 diopters of myopia and up to −5.00 diopters of astigmatism: 15-year follow-up. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25465210/
- Sandoval HP, Donnenfeld ED, Kohnen T, et al. Modern laser in situ keratomileusis outcomes. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery 2016;42(8):1224–1234. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27531300/
- Bohac M, Koncarevic M, Pasalic A, et al. Incidence and clinical characteristics of post LASIK ectasia: a review of over 30,000 LASIK cases. Seminars in Ophthalmology 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30359155/
- Ying J, Roy A, Garg P, Chen W. Complications in patients who have undergone laser refractive surgery. Community Eye Health 2024;37(123):15–18. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11921254/
- Nettune GR, Pflugfelder SC. Post-LASIK tear dysfunction and dysesthesia. The Ocular Surface 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20712970/
- EyeWiki (American Academy of Ophthalmology). LASIK Complications. https://eyewiki.org/LASIK_Complications
- EyeWiki (AAO). Intraocular Lens Power Calculation after Corneal Refractive Surgery. https://eyewiki.org/Intraocular_Lens_Power_Calculation_after_Corneal_Refractive_Surgery
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. LASIK: laser eye surgery. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik
- US Food and Drug Administration. LASIK: What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me? https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-are-risks-and-how-can-i-find-right-doctor-me
- NHS. Laser eye surgery and lens surgery. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/laser-eye-surgery-and-lens-surgery/
- NHS. Retinal detachment. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/retinal-detachment/
- Lee SY, Bae HW, Kwon HJ, Seong GJ, Kim CY. Utility of Goldmann applanation tonometry for monitoring intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients with a history of laser refractive surgery. PLoS One 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29401477/