Will I be completely free from eyeglasses after LASIK?
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Jay Bansal, MD
LaserVue Eye Center
1700 California Street
Suite 480
San Francisco, CA 94109
(800) 791-5691
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Southwestern Eye Center
3321 East Bell Road
Suite B12
Phoenix, AZ 85032
(800) 769-0037
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Jay Bansal, MD
LaserVue Eye Center
3540 Mendocino Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(800) 791-5691
It's important to have realistic expectations about your vision after LASIK. Everyone's eyes are different and heal differently. Though most people who have LASIK attain 20/20 visual acuity, not everyone will see as well after the surgery as they did with glasses or contact lenses before surgery. And nearly everyone who has LASIK will still need to wear reading glasses when they get older and develop the normal age-related loss of near focusing ability called presbyopia.
If you are over age 40, it's a good idea to have several pairs of reading glasses of different powers for different visual tasks. For example, you might find reading glasses that have a power of +1.50 diopters (D) is perfect for reading, but a pair of +2.50 may be better for sewing or for tying a lure on your fishing line.
A pair of +3.00 readers might be even better for removing a sliver from your finger or other very fine detail tasks. To locate retailers that offer reading glasses (online or near you), visit our Reading Glasses page.
Note: This information is for general education purposes only. It is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice from your eye doctor or refractive surgeon.
Last updated: February 2010
