Eye lasers – does clear vision last a lifetime?

Long-term experiences after laser eye treatments usually show that clear vision lasts a lifetime. Post-corrections are rare, but occur. It is important to note that the success of laser eye treatment depends on the method used and the skills of the surgeon.

Presumably, everyone hopes for a lifelong clear view. However, sooner or later, well over half of people in Germany are dependent on glasses or contact lenses.

Many refractive errors can now be treated with laser eye surgery, but the fear of this is still widespread. The risks are negligible, but the chances of success are very good and follow-up treatment is usually unlikely.

In the following article, we will explain for whom laser eye treatment is suitable, how long you can then live symptom-free and why it is worth defying the fear of the procedure. You are also welcome to book a free consultation at the laser eye centre in Stuttgart or Karlsruhe.

Long-term consequences after laser eye surgery

Even if it is repeatedly promised that laser eye treatment will help to achieve lifelong clear vision, this does not have to be true in every case. Although the result of correcting visual impairments with a laser can lead to lifelong freedom from symptoms, this is not guaranteed.

Although it is rather the exception that repeated refractive error occurs and in most cases, laser eye corrections also last a lifetime. Nevertheless, one should not be fooled falsely.

A visual impairment such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, for example, can be corrected by means of a laser in such a way that it lasts a lifetime. Nevertheless, despite the treatment, it is not excluded that you will later develop presbyopia and need reading glasses or a cataract. The development of the eyesight depends on various factors.

Is laser eye surgery dangerous?

Despite the unique chance of a life with clear vision instead of glasses and contact lenses, many people are still afraid of laser eye treatment.

This seems logical at first glance, after all it is one of our most important sensory organs and no one likes to imagine what would happen if something went wrong. However, these concerns are completely unfounded.

The most common is to blind the imagination. However, this is not possible. The laser only radiates on the surface of the cornea and can therefore not injure the optic nerve, the lens or the retina.

In the worst case, the desired result will not be achieved and the treatment must be repeated. Seeing lasers slightly blurred after the eye is quite normal. That settles down within a few hours or days.

Of course, every operation involves some risk. However, thanks to state-of-the-art technology, different laser eye methods and a lot of experience, the dangers of laser eye treatment are negligible and cannot even begin to outweigh the limitations that sufferers of severe refractive errors suffer from.

For more than 20 years, refractive errors have been treated with the help of a laser and, as a rule, patients have sharp vision after only a few days. Thus, laser eye surgery has brought experiences to most patients that are highly positive and should encourage others to take this step.

A correction as a long-term consequence?

Even if only the most modern technology is used, it can still happen in rare cases that a post-correction is necessary. This is carried out in the same way, i.e. by laser eye surgery again.

In principle, the following applies at this point: the higher the visual impairment before treatment, the sooner it may be necessary to correct it. Below 5 dioptres, the risk for this is only about 2 percent.

However, since the deviations are usually very small and not remotely comparable to the previous visual impairments, it is rare for patients to want follow-up treatment.

Am I really free of glasses or contact lenses after laser eye surgery?

Most patients can easily cope without glasses and contact lenses after laser eye treatment in everyday life. This is shown, for example, by the laser eye experience report by Nico Auer.

However, even under ideal conditions, a correction to exactly 0.0 diopters cannot always be guaranteed. In 85 percent of cases, however, the values can be adjusted to only 0.5 diopters.

However, this may mean that glasses or contact lenses with reduced strength are still required when driving at night or putting more strain on the eye.

As already mentioned, reading glasses may also be necessary with increasing age. Patients may not be spared laser treatment before the so-called presbyopia, which can start from the age of 45.

Which refractive errors and eye diseases can be lasered?

Do you already feel safer and play with the idea of having an eye laser treatment? If you recognize yourself in the following points, this should not be a problem.

These refractive errors can be corrected by means of laser therapy:

• Laser treatment for short-sightedness: works up to – 10 dpt
• Laser treatment for long-sightedness up to + 5 dpt 
• Corneal curvature lasers up to 5 dpt

In addition, in the best case, patients should be older than 18 years and there should be no eye diseases, such as cataracts. Even with a very thin cornea (keratoconus), the procedure is not recommended. Read more in the post: Which eyes can not be lasered?

Learn more about laser eye surgery for nearsightedness.

Conclusion: Long-term consequences of laser eye surgery

Laser eye surgery is fast, safe and almost painless. The treatment allows you to see excellently again immediately afterwards – without long wound healing – with the risks being negligible and the result convincing. As a rule, clear vision lasts a lifetime.

Is laser eye correction an option for you? You can get an initial assessment with the online eye laser aptitude test. In the next step, specialists such as Dr. Liliana Bányai will help you get a clear view in the shortest possible time.