# Eye care for People Who Have Had Refractive Surgery

> "My vision was great after LASIK and now it is not."

Vision changing years after refractive surgery is common and has several possible causes: normal prescription drift, developing cataract, presbyopia, or corneal irregularity. Each needs a different answer.

Refractive surgery corrects your prescription at a point in time. It does not stop eyes changing afterwards, and a surprising number of post surgical patients assume it does and then worry when vision drifts.

The most common explanation over forty is presbyopia, which has nothing to do with the surgery. After sixty it is often early cataract. In between it can simply be normal refractive drift.

Less commonly, the corneal surface is irregular in a way that glasses cannot correct well. Post surgical irregularity responds very well to scleral and rigid lens fitting, which restores a smooth optical surface over the treated cornea.

Dry eye that never resolved is the other frequent issue, and it is treatable rather than something to live with.

## What matters most

**Vision drifting**

Presbyopia, cataract or normal drift are the usual causes. Each is assessable and each has a different answer.

**Persistent dry eye**

Surgery interrupts corneal nerve signalling, and for some people tear production does not fully recover. It is treatable.

**Night vision effects**

Halos and starbursts can persist. Corneal mapping shows whether the surface is contributing, and specialty lenses sometimes help.

## Where to start

- [Post operative care](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/lasik-co-management/post-operative-care): Assessment years after surgery as well as weeks
- [Hard to fit lenses](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/contact-lenses/hard-to-fit-contact-lenses): Post surgical corneal irregularity
- [Dry eye](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/specialty-eye-care/dry-eye): Common after surgery and treatable


## Questions and answers
**Do I still need annual eye exams after LASIK?**

Yes. Surgery corrected your focus and did nothing for eye health. Glaucoma screening and retinal assessment matter just as much.

**Can I wear contact lenses after LASIK?**

Yes, and for post surgical irregularity scleral or rigid lenses often give better vision than glasses can.

---## About this practice
Arizona's Vision Eye Care Center, 15215 S 48th St Ste 180, Phoenix, AZ 85044.
Phone (480) 706-3937. Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Independent optometry practice, founded 1994. One location. Does not perform refractive or cataract surgery.
This site publishes no star rating and no review count, because the figures across the practice's own properties contradict one another and cannot be verified.
This page is general information, not medical advice.