LASIK or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis is a surgical procedure that involves reshaping the cornea to improve a person’s vision.

Now, the ideal outcome is for a patient to achieve 6/6 vision following LASIK, of course. Indeed, this does happen for the vast majority of people after LASIK.

However, there are also cases when patients need more than one LASIK procedure to get the vision they desire. These subsequent LASIK procedures are called LASIK enhancements.

This begs the question: How many LASIK surgeries can you have?

Reasons for Considering LASIK Enhancements

While LASIK is very accurate, there will still be a few people whose eyesight does not get to 6/6 vision after LASIK. The reason for this is that the cornea of patient A may not absorb the laser at the same amount as that of patient B. The higher the degree, the greater the possibility (in the range of 2 to 3%) that there may be a small amount of degree remaining after the procedure.

Short-sightedness can increase in adults regardless of whether they wear spectacles or contact lenses or get LASIK done. As such, all adults still need to continue to have good eye care habits.

If your degree has increased again after LASIK, you can visit your eye doctor to see what the amount of degree is. The cornea thickness will also be measured to see if it is thick enough to be lasered again.

Each laser procedure will laser off a percentage of the cornea, making it thinner. The number of procedures you can have will depend on the total amount of degree and also the thickness of your cornea.

The Risks of LASIK Enhancements

LASIK enhancements are surgical procedures, which means they come with their share of risks as well. Below are the ones worth noting if you’re considering an enhancement.

1. Healing Complications

Healing complications are a natural risk for any surgery, and most of the healing complications for your first LASIK procedure are risks too for subsequent ones.

For instance, the corneal flap can struggle to heal if it gets infected. The flap can also suffer from epithelial ingrowth which means that cells grow under the flap as the wound heals.

It’s also possible to get corneal ectasia, even if it’s rare. This is when the cornea becomes so thin that it can no longer hold its shape and it ends up changing to an uneven shape which causes blurry vision.

2. Dry Eye Syndrome

This is another common risk when getting LASIK. The nerves that control the tear ducts may be adversely affected by the procedure, which means they suffer a reduced tear production. The chance of getting dry eyes is similar to the first LASIK procedure.

3. Other Long-term Issues

Some people getting LASIK also end up with persistent poor night vision. Other possible negative outcomes are halos around light sources, persistent glare issues, and even decreased vision in rare cases.

Learn more about LASIK enhancements today

LASIK enhancements are not necessary for the vast majority of people who undergo LASIK, but they may be advised for some to get the best results from their procedure.

If anything, this highlights the importance of being well-informed when making decisions about LASIK and similar procedures. It’s best to consult an experienced ophthalmologist too, for a professional opinion.

If you’re wondering if you should get further LASIK surgeries, call us to enquire or book an appointment. We can schedule a pre-LASIK assessment for you with one of our doctors today.

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