Posted by: Associates in Ophthalmology (NJ) in LASIK
Do you want to enjoy crystal-clear vision and reduce or completely eliminate the need for glasses or contacts? You may be a good candidate for LASIK.
Most patients who get LASIK achieve 20/20 vision or better after the procedure. However, it’s important to understand that your vision could still change after the procedure due to other eye conditions, which may require you to start using visual aids like reading glasses again.
Keep reading to learn more about if you will need reading glasses after LASIK.
What Is LASIK?
LASIK is a laser procedure that corrects vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These common refractive errors typically occur due to a misshapen cornea or an eye that is too long or too short.
During LASIK, your ophthalmologist reshapes the cornea with specialized lasers to correct these refractive errors. Most patients enjoy clear, high-definition vision for decades and no longer need glasses or contacts.
How Does LASIK Treat Farsightedness?
Farsightedness impacts your ability to see things at a close distance. If you are farsighted, you can clearly see items that are far away, but those nearby are blurry.
It is typically caused by an eye that is too short or a cornea that is too flat, resulting in light hitting the back of the retina rather than the center. This blurs up-close vision, making doing things like reading, going on your phone, or doing hands-on work harder.
Most farsighted patients require reading glasses for these up-close tasks. However, LASIK can correct this refractive error by reshaping your cornea to direct light to the retina’s center so you can see clearly without needing visual aids.
Can LASIK Treat Presbyopia?
It’s important to note that not all forms of farsightedness can be treated with LASIK. Presbyopia, also known as age-related farsightedness, is a condition that occurs when the natural lens of the eye starts to lose its flexibility over time.
This causes objects at a close distance to look out of focus. Because LASIK does not involve the natural lens of the eye and instead reshapes the cornea, it cannot correct presbyopia.
Is LASIK Right for Me?
If you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, you may be a good candidate for LASIK. However, if you have presbyopia, you may be better suited for a different vision correction procedure like refractive lens exchange.
You must be at least 18 years old to undergo LASIK and have a stable prescription. While there is technically no upper age limit for the procedure, most eye doctors do not recommend the procedure after the age of 40.
This is because many patients may start developing presbyopia or cataracts around this time, which could impair your vision and require you to use visual aids like reading glasses again. To find out whether LASIK would be right for you, you’ll need to consult with your eye doctor at Associates in Ophthalmology.
They will perform a comprehensive eye exam, ask questions about your medical history, and discuss your vision goals to determine your candidacy. Signs you may be a good candidate for LASIK include:
- You are between 18 and 40 with a stable prescription
- You have thick enough corneas
- You have realistic expectations about what the procedure can do for your vision
- You do not have glaucoma, cataracts, or severe dry eye
- You do not have autoimmune conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjogren’s syndrome
- You want independence from glasses and contacts
Want to learn more about LASIK and how it could help reduce your reliance on reading glasses? Schedule an appointment at Associates in Ophthalmology in Livingston, NJ, today!
