How long does laser eye surgery last?

If you’re considering laser eye surgery, it’s reasonable to ask how long the results last.

At Blink Vision Clinic in Canberra, we help people understand what they can expect from laser vision correction based on their eyes and age.

How does laser eye surgery work?

Laser eye surgery reshapes the clear front part of the eye, called the cornea, to help light focus properly. This can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.

The changes made to the cornea are permanent. But your eyes can still change naturally with age.

How long do the effects last?

For people under 40:
Most people enjoy stable vision for many years. Some may not need glasses again for a long time. However, vision can change over time, especially with significant lifestyle or health changes.

For people over 45:
You may develop presbyopia, which affects your ability to see up close. This is a normal age-related change to the natural lens inside the eye and occurs whether or not you’ve had laser surgery.

At Blink Vision Clinic, we offer PresbyMAX for people in this age group. It’s designed to help with both distance and near vision. Suitability depends on your individual eye health.

Will I need more than one procedure?

Most people do not need further treatment. However, a small number may benefit from a refinement or enhancement procedure later on. This may be due to subtle changes in prescription or vision over time.

Before any procedure, we assess your eye health, stability of your prescription, and other factors to reduce the chance of future changes.

Does laser surgery “wear off”?

No. The laser reshaping itself is permanent. But your eyes can still change naturally as part of the ageing process.

That’s why we focus on stability and suitability in our assessments. We aim for the best possible outcome based on your long-term eye health.

What do patients say?

Many of our patients say they appreciate the reduced dependence on glasses or contacts after treatment. Outcomes vary based on prescription, eye health, age, and individual healing.

We always provide realistic expectations based on your personal situation. Every person’s result is different.

What if my prescription isn’t stable?

If your prescription is still changing, we’ll likely recommend waiting before proceeding. Stable vision is key to good long-term results.

We’ll also screen for other conditions that might affect the outcome, such as dry eye, corneal thickness, or other eye diseases.

What should I do next?

Laser eye surgery isn’t right for everyone. But finding out whether it might work for you is simple.

Take our free suitability self-test. It gives you an idea of whether a consultation may be worthwhile.

A full clinical assessment will always be required before any decisions are made.