Can You Get LASIK Twice? Enhancements Explained

A common myth about LASIK is that it’s a one-and-done procedure — you have it once, and your vision stays perfect forever. In reality, while LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea, vision can still change over time due to natural aging or other factors. The good news is that in many cases, a second procedure called an enhancement can fine-tune your vision safely and effectively.

LASIK corrects refractive errors by reshaping the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. This change is permanent. However, your eyes themselves continue to age. In your 40s or 50s, for example, you may develop presbyopia, a natural loss of near focus that affects everyone, even those who never had LASIK. Some people also experience small refractive shifts years later, particularly if their prescription was strong before surgery or if their corneas were thinner to begin with.

A LASIK enhancement is a follow-up treatment designed to fine-tune the results of your initial surgery. If your vision begins to blur again or you develop minor refractive changes, your surgeon can perform another laser correction on the same eye. The process is often quicker than the first surgery because much of the preparation, such as flap creation, may not need to be repeated.

Enhancements are typically performed months or years after the first LASIK procedure, once your vision has stabilized and other potential causes of blurriness (like dry eye or cataracts) have been ruled out.

Before recommending a second LASIK, your ophthalmologist will evaluate several factors:

• Corneal thickness: Sufficient tissue must remain to safely reshape the surface.
  
• Flap integrity: The original LASIK flap must still be stable and well-healed.
  
• Overall eye health: Conditions such as dry eye, keratoconus or scarring may affect outcomes.
  

If LASIK enhancement isn’t an option, other treatments such as PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) may be used instead. PRK reshapes the cornea’s surface without creating a new flap, making it safer for patients with thinner corneas.

It’s important to remember that LASIK doesn’t stop your eyes from aging. Think of it as resetting your prescription, not freezing your vision in time. For many patients, that reset lasts decades without issue. But when minor shifts occur, enhancement offers a simple, effective way to restore crisp, clear vision.

If your vision isn’t as sharp as it once was after LASIK, you don’t have to live with it. Schedule a comprehensive exam with your eye surgeon at Great Plains Eye Specialists to see whether an enhancement could help you see your best again. For more information, call 605-718-5123 or visit WEBSITE.