When should one consider LASIK enhancement for residual degree?

Doctor's Answers 2

Hi Elaine

Although most people have very good vision without glasses after LASIK, it is possible for what we call under or overcorrection to occur with any kind of refractive surgery. Even if under/overcorrection occurs, it is usually of such a low degree that the patient does not notice it, or it does not affect the patient in their daily life. These under/overcorrections are usually due to small differences in the way a particular person's eyes respond to the laser effect.

The most important factor to consider, in deciding whether to proceed with enhancement, is how much the blurring caused by the under/overcorrection affects you.

So if for example, you went for a check up and the optometrist said you have residual degree of 50 degrees, but you feel quite happy with the vision you have and any blurring is so mild that it does not affect you, then it is perfectly fine to leave the 50 degrees alone.

On the other hand, if there are things you would like to be able to do but the residual degree prevents you from doing it, then it is quite reasonable to consider enhancement.

The other important factor to consider is the time since the original LASIK operation. It is well known that the spectacle power can take some time to settle down, so enhancements should only be done at least 3 months from the original LASIK. This is to avoid treating patients whose apparent residual spectacle power could have disappeared by themselves.

Generally speaking, 50 degrees is about the threshold where I would consider enhancing a patient's LASIK result. 25 degrees would be such a small degree that it is generally not thought worthwhile to undergo the procedure, while with higher residual degrees such as 100 degrees the benefit becomes more significant.

Of course, even if you are keen to have enhancement, you will need to be checked for suitability with an assessment that includes your remaining corneal thickness. Do discuss these issues with your doctor as well so that any further doubts are clarified.

Enhancement after LASIK surgery requires time to ensure that the residual refractive errors are stable before going in for another round of laser. Usually, this may take as long as 4 months after the first LASIK procedure.

What most surgeons are looking for are about 3 consecutive monthly readings of your refractive error before one can confidently apply those readings for the enhancement treatment.

Similar Questions

How long should I allow for my vision to stabilise after LASIK before going for LASIK enhancement?

Hi Elaine It is important to consider if one’s vision has stabilized after the original LASIK surgery before undergoing LASIK enhancement. There is NO definite duration of time, but in general at least 3 months after LASIK, would be the approximate period. Nevertheless, the duration after the initial LASIK surgery, is not the most important factor to consider. If there are still changes seen in the spectacles prescription after 3 months, it will not be advisable to undergo LASIK enhancement despite the time duration.

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Answered By

Dr Jimmy Lim Wei Kheong

Ophthalmologist

What factors should I consider in deciding whether Punctal Plugs are the right treatment for my dry eyes after LASIK?

Punctal plugs are very effective for treating dry eyes that occur during waking hours, whether or not the situation is associated with LASIK. They help to reduce the need for eyedrops, so are very useful for people who have to use artificial tears very frequently eg instead of having to use the eyedrops every 2-3 hourly, sometimes after the plugs are placed, the eyedrops might only be needed every 4-6 hourly. As long as there is no active eye inflammation (eg persistent eye redness/discharge), punctal plugs can help anyone with moderate dry eyes requiring frequent eyedrop instillation.

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