"About 10 years ago, I had LASIK surgery, but my vision has worsened again.
Is it possible to have a revision surgery?"
"I heard that if you have LASIK done somewhere else and your vision deteriorates, revision surgery is not possible. Is that true, Doctor?"
It seems that more than 10 people per day come to our eye clinic with these kinds of questions and concerns.
However, even with the advancement of online information, many people have come across a lot of incorrect information.
Therefore, today, I would like to provide answers in a Q&A format regarding the possibility of revision surgery after LASIK and address some misconceptions found on the internet.
I am the head ophthalmologist and director of an eye clinic located in the Gangnam area. I have a background as a clinical professor at 'Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital,' which is one of the top eye clinics in Korea.
(Below, I have selected the six most frequently asked questions by our clinic visitors, and I have also included additional tips regarding revision surgery. I hope you read through them until the end.)
Q 1 I heard that revision surgery is not possible after LASIK. Is it really possible?
Yes, it is possible.
Sometimes, many people come across incorrect information that once you have LASIK surgery, revision surgery is not easily achievable.
This information is actually a misconception that is spread on the internet.
After LASIK, it is still possible to reshape the cornea adequately, and in many cases, a slight adjustment during revision surgery can significantly improve vision.
Q 2 I'm worried that my vision might worsen again after receiving revision LASIK surgery. How many times can I undergo revision surgery?
If a patient's vision continues to deteriorate, revision surgery can be performed 3 to 4 times continuously.
However, it is important to consider the remaining thickness of the cornea. If there is very little corneal thickness remaining or if it is too thin, revision surgery may be challenging, and alternative options such as inserting lenses may need to be considered.
However, in my experience as an ophthalmologist, cases where the cornea is too thin for revision surgery are extremely rare, and there are very few instances where vision worsens again after multiple revision surgeries.
Q 3 I am older in age. Can I still have revision LASIK surgery?
Yes, it is possible.
Age is not a determining factor for revision surgery.
In fact, for older individuals, their eye growth has already stabilized, and there is a higher chance that their vision will not deteriorate further.
Therefore, even if you are older and considering revision surgery, you do not need to worry about additional concerns regarding the surgery.
Q 4 I experienced a lot of pain during my initial LASIK procedure. Is the pain severe during revision LASIK surgery as well?
As someone who has also undergone LASIK, I completely understand your question! (laughs)
Fortunately, the good news is that the pain during revision LASIK surgery is not as severe.
During revision surgery, the amount of corneal tissue that needs to be reshaped is approximately 1/4 of what was done during the initial surgery, and the laser treatment time is less than 5 seconds.
With less tissue removal, the duration of discomfort is reduced to around 1-2 days, and the overall pain is much milder compared to the initial LASIK procedure.
Q 5 I'm worried about the side effects of touching my eyes one more time.Are there any side effects?
ln the case of LASIK revision surgery, there may be a side effect of epithelial ingrowth (the corneal epithelium grows inside the flap), but
Lasek is known to have few side effects.
There is no problem because it is a process of shaving the cornea a little more in the existing condition.
It doesn't make dry eye syndrome worse, and it doesn't cause clouding of the cornea.
(I don't think there's anything wrong with just experiencing the pain one more time ^^)
Q 6 I am in need of revision surgery.
What will the price be?
In the case of revision surgery, the cost may be slightly higher because more machines are required and the surgical method is a little more sophisticated.
In fact, there are not many ophthalmologists that perform revision surgery, so it is often worth calling.
From what I've seen so far, there are places that receive 2 to 3 times the price of conventional LASIK surgery.
However, I felt very sorry for the patients who could not receive treatment because of the cost...
I couldn't bear to pretend I didn't see them when I heard that these people lost their way and continue to live with bad eyesight.
So, we set up a revision surgery center, and we are helping to make sure that the cost of surgery does not deviate too much from the existing one.
But, here's a tip for you
It is also a good idea to check whether the place where you had surgery is undergoing revision surgery.
Occasionally, there is a guarantee that the surgery is performed again for free even if the eyes deteriorate after surgery, called the 'lifetime liability guarantee system'.
It is also a good idea to check if the ophthalmology you received is implementing this system.
(Our hospital is one of them^^)
If there are some of you reading this who haven't had LASIK yet,
I can say that it is a very good tip to have surgery at a hospital that has a 'lifetime liability guarantee system' as above.
- So far, we have dealt with the most frequently asked questions by those who have visited our ophthalmology clinic,
I hope this article reaches and helps everyone who is worried about revision surgery.
Some of you who are reading this may have thought, 'What kind of teacher do you give me such helpful information?'
For these people, I will attach an article that introduces me well below, so please check it out.
[Notice] A letter to those who are curious about Healing Ophthalmology, CEO Seonyoung Kim
So, let's cut this short here.
Until now, it was Kim Sun-young, the representative director of Healing Ophthalmology ^^
- Location -
Address
HEALINGEY ECLINIC
470, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Visiting hours
Weekdays: 10:00~18:30/Saturdays: 10:00~16:00
Sundays: a regular holiday
"About 10 years ago, I had LASIK surgery, but my vision has worsened again.
Is it possible to have a revision surgery?"
"I heard that if you have LASIK done somewhere else and your vision deteriorates, revision surgery is not possible. Is that true, Doctor?"
It seems that more than 10 people per day come to our eye clinic with these kinds of questions and concerns.
However, even with the advancement of online information, many people have come across a lot of incorrect information.
Therefore, today, I would like to provide answers in a Q&A format regarding the possibility of revision surgery after LASIK and address some misconceptions found on the internet.
I am the head ophthalmologist and director of an eye clinic located in the Gangnam area. I have a background as a clinical professor at 'Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital,' which is one of the top eye clinics in Korea.
(Below, I have selected the six most frequently asked questions by our clinic visitors, and I have also included additional tips regarding revision surgery. I hope you read through them until the end.)
Yes, it is possible.
Sometimes, many people come across incorrect information that once you have LASIK surgery, revision surgery is not easily achievable.
This information is actually a misconception that is spread on the internet.
After LASIK, it is still possible to reshape the cornea adequately, and in many cases, a slight adjustment during revision surgery can significantly improve vision.
If a patient's vision continues to deteriorate, revision surgery can be performed 3 to 4 times continuously.
However, it is important to consider the remaining thickness of the cornea. If there is very little corneal thickness remaining or if it is too thin, revision surgery may be challenging, and alternative options such as inserting lenses may need to be considered.
However, in my experience as an ophthalmologist, cases where the cornea is too thin for revision surgery are extremely rare, and there are very few instances where vision worsens again after multiple revision surgeries.
Yes, it is possible.
Age is not a determining factor for revision surgery.
In fact, for older individuals, their eye growth has already stabilized, and there is a higher chance that their vision will not deteriorate further.
Therefore, even if you are older and considering revision surgery, you do not need to worry about additional concerns regarding the surgery.
As someone who has also undergone LASIK, I completely understand your question! (laughs)
Fortunately, the good news is that the pain during revision LASIK surgery is not as severe.
During revision surgery, the amount of corneal tissue that needs to be reshaped is approximately 1/4 of what was done during the initial surgery, and the laser treatment time is less than 5 seconds.
With less tissue removal, the duration of discomfort is reduced to around 1-2 days, and the overall pain is much milder compared to the initial LASIK procedure.
ln the case of LASIK revision surgery, there may be a side effect of epithelial ingrowth (the corneal epithelium grows inside the flap), but
Lasek is known to have few side effects.
There is no problem because it is a process of shaving the cornea a little more in the existing condition.
It doesn't make dry eye syndrome worse, and it doesn't cause clouding of the cornea.
(I don't think there's anything wrong with just experiencing the pain one more time ^^)
In the case of revision surgery, the cost may be slightly higher because more machines are required and the surgical method is a little more sophisticated.
In fact, there are not many ophthalmologists that perform revision surgery, so it is often worth calling.
From what I've seen so far, there are places that receive 2 to 3 times the price of conventional LASIK surgery.
However, I felt very sorry for the patients who could not receive treatment because of the cost...
I couldn't bear to pretend I didn't see them when I heard that these people lost their way and continue to live with bad eyesight.
So, we set up a revision surgery center, and we are helping to make sure that the cost of surgery does not deviate too much from the existing one.
But, here's a tip for you
It is also a good idea to check whether the place where you had surgery is undergoing revision surgery.
Occasionally, there is a guarantee that the surgery is performed again for free even if the eyes deteriorate after surgery, called the 'lifetime liability guarantee system'.
It is also a good idea to check if the ophthalmology you received is implementing this system.
(Our hospital is one of them^^)
If there are some of you reading this who haven't had LASIK yet,
I can say that it is a very good tip to have surgery at a hospital that has a 'lifetime liability guarantee system' as above.
I hope this article reaches and helps everyone who is worried about revision surgery.
Some of you who are reading this may have thought, 'What kind of teacher do you give me such helpful information?'
For these people, I will attach an article that introduces me well below, so please check it out.
Other Stories from HEALINGEYE CLINIC
[Notice] A letter to those who are curious about Healing Ophthalmology, CEO Seonyoung Kim
So, let's cut this short here.
Until now, it was Kim Sun-young, the representative director of Healing Ophthalmology ^^
Healing Eye Clinic
- Location -
Address
HEALINGEY ECLINIC
470, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Visiting hours
Weekdays: 10:00~18:30/Saturdays: 10:00~16:00
Sundays: a regular holiday