Carter Eye Lasik Vision Correction Blog

Something that many people wonder about is whether they will need reading glasses after LASIK. The answer is that most people will not need reading glasses immediately after LASIK vision correction, but may need them later. In fact, many people with perfect vision during their youth need reading glasses as they age.

We get clear vision when light from an object focuses on the retina, the back part of the eye. When light enters the eye, it passes through two clear portions of the eye, the cornea and the lens, to be refracted (bent) so it focuses on the retina. LASIK and other refractive surgeries like LASEK and PRK correct abnormalities in the cornea that prevent light from focusing clearly. The cornea refracts all light the same, and retains its shape throughout our life, so once LASIK has corrected abnormalities, the cornea remains corrected.

But the lens is different. It changes shape to allow us to focus on close or distant objects, a process known as accommodation. As we age, the lens loses its ability to change shape, making it harder to see objects up close (reading distance), a condition known as presbyopia, which is why we need reading glasses as we get older. Shortly after this, the lens also begins to cloud up with cataracts. The only treatment for cataracts is to remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial one. Thankfully, new, advanced artificial lenses like ReSTOR and Crystalens may also allow you to see at all distances without the need for reading glasses.

At the Carter Eye Center, we offer our clients vision solutions for an active life, solutions that last a lifetime. Whether you are interested in LASIK vision correction or another alternative, please schedule a vision correction consultation today.