I remove my glasses to read. Will I need reading glasses 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
If you're over age 40 and you see better up close when you remove your eyeglasses, you have nearsightedness and presbyopia.
LASIK surgery can correct your nearsightedness so you can see distant objects more clearly, but in doing so it will make your age-related presbyopia more apparent, making near objects blurry without reading glasses. To see clearly up close after LASIK, you'll need reading glasses if you're over age 40 (even though you don't need them now).
For the most functional vision overall, you may want to consider monovision LASIK. Monovision intentionally leaves one eye mildly nearsighted. Though you may not see distant objects quite as clearly with monovision (compared to both eyes being fully corrected), it will enable you to see better up close and decrease your dependence on reading glasses. Your eye doctor can demonstrate monovision to you during your pre-operative eye exam and LASIK consultation.
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
