After having LASIK refractive surgery, there are some instances where glasses will still be needed after the surgery. In these cases, it may be desirable to repeat the LASIK procedure a second time to “touch up” the remaining prescription. Typically, traditional LASIK is unable to be repeated other than to fix a complication immediately following the surgery. However, PRK may be performed multiple times or may be performed following LASIK initially. If there is a need for a touch-up surgery, the surgeon will discuss what options are available for you.
Traditional LASIK Procedure
With traditional LASIK, two lasers are used to perform the surgery. The first laser is used to open a circular flap in the top layer of the cornea, the corneal epithelium.
Once this flap is cut, it is then raised to expose the inner layers of the cornea and allow the second laser to work.
The second laser removes tissue from the inner layer of the cornea to account for the glasses prescription so that once the flap is replaced and the eye is healed, there is minimal need for any prescription glasses.
After the second laser is complete, the flap is replaced and attached using eye drops to smooth the adhesion.
The eye will naturally heal along the flap border within days and then should be healed and able to see without glasses.
Complications of a Second LASIK Procedure
If a second LASIK procedure is done, there is an increased risk for additional scarring or damage around the flap and there is an increased risk of the cornea ending too thin after the second LASIK procedure removes additional tissue.
The LASIK flap will create a small scar that should heal and will not usually cause any symptoms or long-term issues.
However, if a second procedure is repeated over the same area, the risk of scarring that can become problematic or cause symptoms will increase greatly.
Another possibly greater, concern is that if a second LASIK procedure is performed, the cornea will end up too thin due to the amount of tissue that is removed with the laser.
If the cornea is too thin, there can be a risk of perforation and developing irregularities in the cornea.
Other Options than Getting LASIK Twice
For most cases where a “touch-up” of a small remaining prescription is needed, PRK is an option even after LASIK.
PRK is a similar procedure to LASIK but does not involve the cutting of a flap and therefore requires much less tissue loss.
If PRK can be performed safely, there is a good chance that after the PRK procedure, there will be no need for distance glasses.
While PRK can generally be performed following LASIK, there are some instances in which no laser refractive surgery can be performed due to the thin nature of the cornea or another corneal problem.
In these cases, glasses or contact lenses are the best options for seeing clearly and maintaining good eye health.
Consult with your eye doctor or surgeon to find out what options may be available to you.
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