JOEUNNUN VISION CLINIC

Can LASIK and LASEK Be Retreated? After vision correction surgery, it would be ideal if the corrected vision stayed the same, but sometimes it decreases over time. This is called regression. It rarely occurs 10–20 years after surgery, but more commonly within 1–2 years post-surgery. When Does Regression Occur Easily? One condition that increases the likelihood of regression is having a large correction amount. Patients with high myopia or high astigmatism have a slightly higher chance of experiencing regression. Another factor is neglecting the use of eye drops that stabilize the cornea after surgery. If regression occurs after LASEK, retreatment is done with LASEK again. There are two ways to retreat after LASIK. One option is performing another LASIK procedure by lifting the same corneal flap created during the first surgery. However, if too much time has passed since the first surgery, or if the quality of the flap makes lifting it unsuitable, retreatment is done with LASEK instead....

Is It Better to Have Larger Pupils When Getting LASIK Surgery? Generally, younger people tend to have larger pupils, while those in their 40s or 50s experience a decrease in pupil size to below average. You may have noticed that squinting sometimes makes your vision appear clearer — this is because when the pupils are larger, more unnecessary light enters the eye, which can blur vision. Squinting reduces that excess light, improving clarity. Similarly, having smaller pupils naturally creates an effect similar to squinting, allowing for better visual quality. On the other hand, larger pupils can sometimes cause a sense of blurred or unfocused vision. Is It Risky If the Treatment Area Becomes Wider due to Having Large Pupils? During vision correction surgery, the optical zone refers to the actual area of the cornea that is reshaped by the laser. The surgery doesn’t correct the entire visible iris — only about a 6 to 6.5 mm area in the center. If the pupil is too large, performing surger...

Is Corneal Strengthening Necessary After Vision Correction Surgery? After any type of laser vision correction surgery, the cornea inevitably becomes thinner. To withstand this, the cornea must maintain a certain level of strength. If a specific part of the cornea becomes too thin, that area can weaken, bulge outward, and lead to irregular astigmatism known as keratoconus. Corneal strengthening can help reduce the risk of post-surgical complications. Today, corneal strengthening is performed not as a treatment, but as a preventive procedure. By combining corneal strengthening with vision correction surgery, the weakened cornea can be better protected against future instability. What are the Benefits of Corneal Strengthening? Corneal strengthening helps reinforce the cornea, which may have been weakened during vision correction surgery. Research shows that corneal tissue treated with strengthening is less prone to regression after surgery. While it can be beneficial for anyone, not under...

Did LASIK Surgery In The Past Involve Shaving The Cornea? LASIK involves creating a corneal flap, lifting it, reshaping the cornea with a laser, and then repositioning the flap. In the past, however, the flap was created using a blade. Because of this, LASIK was not widely preferred, and LASEK was considered safer, so it was performed more often. Over time, femtosecond lasers were introduced to create the flap, which significantly improved the safety and precision of LASIK, allowing surgeons to make flaps with consistent thickness and accuracy. What Problems Can Occur When Creating The Flap With a Blade? A laser-made flap has uniform thickness and shape, whereas a blade-made flap could be less precise. The desired flap thickness might not be achieved, and differences in the speed of the blade at the start and end of the cut could make the flap irregular. Also, when stopping at the hinge portion, depending on the corneal shape, tissue could detach unexpectedly. In fact, most of the comp...

When Will Your Vision Start To Improve After Vision Correction Surgery? After LASIK or SMILE surgery, your vision is generally decent even right after the procedure. However, it may still be difficult to see small text clearly. For the first six hours after LASIK or SMILE, some discomfort is normal, but after that, you’ll likely start to notice your vision improving significantly. Most patients reach their target vision about a month after LASIK or SMILE surgery. LASEK is a bit different. On the first day, you may be surprised at how well you can see. But after about three days, your corneal epithelium begins to regenerate, which causes your vision to decline compared to right after the surgery. On the third day, as the epithelium covers the center of the cornea, your vision declines. By the fifth day, vision usually starts improving again. Around the seventh day, you’ll likely return to the clinic to have the protective lens removed. Once the lens is removed, vision often drops again ...

Is Spring a Season When Eye Conditions Frequently Occur? Yes, many eye conditions tend to flare up in the spring due to seasonal allergies. Common irritants during this time include fine dust and yellow dust, which can cause eye stinging, redness, and dry eye symptoms. These environmental factors can exacerbate dry eye, especially in individuals already prone to it. Is It Safe to Undergo Vision Correction Surgery in the Spring? If there’s any inflammation in the cornea or conjunctiva before surgery, it will be treated first before proceeding. In patients with healthy corneas, undergoing surgery does not typically worsen allergic symptoms. SMILE LASIK patients usually use anti-inflammatory eye drops for 2–3 weeks, while LASEK patients use them for 2–3 months. These drops not only aid in recovery but also help prevent allergic conjunctivitis. Some patients worry that undergoing surgery in spring may trigger severe allergies. However, because anti-inflammatory drops are consistently used ...

Is There a Vision Correction Surgery that Can Correct Astigmatism? One of the challenges of astigmatism is its higher rate of regression compared to myopia. When both myopia and astigmatism are present, there is a slightly greater chance that astigmatism may return after surgery. LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE LASIK are all capable of correcting astigmatism. Among these, SMILE LASIK has shown a lower rate of regression, making it an effective option for correcting astigmatism. However, for very high levels of astigmatism, SMILE LASIK has mechanical limitations, so extremely severe astigmatism may not be treatable with SMILE LASIK. Is There a Way to Correct Severe Astigmatism? For those with severe astigmatism, astigmatic keratotomy, a type of corneal incision surgery, can be considered. When astigmatism is severe, both distant and near vision can be blurry. In such cases, a small incision is made on the outer part of the cornea depending on the degree of astigmatism. If the astigmatism is red...

How Can I Tell If My Vision Is Regressing after Vision Correction Surgery? After vision correction surgery, some patients may experience a gradual decline in their corrected vision—this is called regression. While vision correction doesn’t have an expiration date, regression can still occur. It most commonly happens within 1 to 2 years after surgery, rather than decades later. What Causes Vision Regression After Surgery? Regression is more likely when a large correction is needed—especially in cases of high myopia or astigmatism. Another common cause is poor compliance with post-operative care, such as skipping anti-inflammatory eye drops that help stabilize the cornea. If regression occurs, LASEK patients are typically re-treated with LASEK. For LASIK patients, there are two options: 1. Re-lift the original corneal flap for another LASIK procedure (if the flap is still suitable). 2. If too much time has passed or the flap is not stable, LASEK is used instead for re-treatment. ...

Does LASIK or LASEK Cause Dry Eyes? Some people believe that undergoing LASIK or LASEK leads to dry eyes. However, wearing contact lenses is actually more likely to cause dry eyes than having LASIK or LASEK surgery. However, due to the reduction of tear production after LASIK and LASEK, some degree of dryness can still occur. What’s The Difference Between LASIK and LASEK? LASIK surgery involves creating a corneal flap, while LASEK removes the corneal epithelial layer to reshape the cornea with laser. Both procedures can result in some damage to the corneal nerves. When your eyes become dry, they trigger a reflex that stimulates tear production. For this mechanism to function properly, the corneal nerves must be intact. However, if these nerves are damaged during LASIK or LASEK, the eye’s ability to respond to dryness can be impaired. This is considered a complication related to tear function after the surgery. The dry eye symptoms can differ between LASIK and LASEK. After LASIK, dry ey...

 Is It Better to Get LASIK or LASEK During Military Service? Ideally, it’s best to undergo the surgery before military. Military life involves intense physical activity and training, which can be inconvenient when wearing glasses. Having vision correction surgery beforehand makes daily life in the military much easier. SMILE is recommended 1–2 weeks before enlistment, LASIK about 1 month prior, and LASEK at least 3–6 months prior. If you plan to use a short vacation for surgery, SMILE is the best option due to its quick recovery and minimal postoperative care.   LASIK requires about a month of caution due to the corneal flap, and LASEK involves long-term eye drop use. For a more comfortable military experience, SMILE surgery is highly recommended. Is It Safe to Undergo CBR Training after Vision Correction Surgery? During CBR training, tear gas primarily affects the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the eye. It rarely reaches the deeper corneal stroma, so as long as yo...