What should I do if I have overcorrected vision after LASIK?

Hi Jamie

The most important question to ask yourself before wondering what to do is: How do you feel?

In all likelihood, your vision is clear and you're feeling OK, in which case there is no need to do anything but to enjoy your vision.

Longsightedness is a very misunderstood situation/condition. How it affects a person depends very much on their age.

In a young person like you, with lots of focusing ability (accommodative reserve), your eye will 'focus away' the longsightedness and make everything clear despite its presence.

The longsightedness does require you to put in a bit more effort to focus compared with somebody who is not longsighted, but the effort to focus an extra +0.75D is probably so little that you would not usually notice it.

You may like to read the answers to this question as well:

Is it common for LASIK surgeons to overcorrect slightly to account for future regression

Now, coming back to the question regarding how you feel.

If you feel dizziness, or eye strain, or fluctuating/blurred vision, do visit your ophthalmologist again to make sure the spectacle power measurements are accurate and that there are no other eye problems which may be causing your unease.

But again, if you feel absolutely fine with clear vision, a bit of overcorrection is not necessarily anything to worry about.

Do not fret. In any event that you have encountered the possibility of residual refractive error after TransPRK, it would be best to seek the opinion and assistance of your surgeon. What needs to be ascertained is your precise refractive error and that would be best done at an eye clinic that can do your measurements both before after your pupils are dilated to get a more accurate reading.

In the event it is found that you truly have significant residual refractive error, your surgeon may modify your post-op medications to see if that may help shift the refractive state in your favour. Nevertheless, should any plans be made for enhancement, I would usually prefer to wait approximately 3 months for your corneas to stabilise before undergoing another round of TransPRK.

Dr David Chan