Should You Seek Revision Of A Vision Correction Procedure?

Posted on: 26 April 2019

If you've had LASIK or PRK vision correction surgery, you may have initially been delighted at your clear new vision. But over time, this clarity can fade, and you may find yourself again squinting at distant signs or holding books or tablets too close to your face. Even if your vision correction facility provided a "lifetime guarantee" for its work, it can be a tough decision to go under the knife (or laser) again. Learn more about some of the situations in which revision of your vision correction procedure might be appropriate, as well as others in which it's best to leave well enough alone.

When is Revision Recommended?

For patients who have undergone PRK surgery instead of LASIK, it's not uncommon for vision to decline a bit once the lens has fully healed. Unlike LASIK, which requires the surgeon to make a flap in the lens to access the cornea, PRK simply removes the outer part of the lens until the correct shape is achieved.

Although the PRK healing process is a bit more intensive than the LASIK healing process, the means through which perfect vision is achieved can actually make PRK more appropriate for revision. There's a smaller risk of generating scar tissue by reopening the old lens flap, and once you've gone through the process before, you'll have a better idea as to what you should expect during recovery.

However, even if revision is recommended for your general situation, it's unlikely to achieve measurable results if your non-corrected vision is still close to a perfect 20/20. Depending on their preferences (and, in some cases, the terms of their medical malpractice insurance policies), some surgeons may decline to fiddle with a patient's vision until their distance vision declines to 40/20 or lower or they require reading glasses for near vision.

When Should You Decline Vision Correction Surgery?

If the new vision problems you've noticed include "halos" or poor night vision, these issues may be attributable to astigmatism, not a loss in your distance vision. Laser correction procedures can't do much to solve astigmatism, so undergoing a revision procedure isn't likely to provide you with the results you're seeking.

By that same token, if you had any trouble healing from your first surgery or are still dealing with dry eyes or other potential side effects, the risks of undergoing a revision surgery may outweigh the marginal benefits. Each time a laser is used to reshape your cornea, there's a risk of scar tissue developing; having more than one vision correction procedure can risk long-term consequences, including an inability to undergo laser surgery for cataracts or glaucoma.

For more information, contact an eye care specialist like Macomb Eye Care Specialists.

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