Question: I had laser surgery a few months ago. Do I still need to get my eyes checked regularly?
Answer: Yes! It is very important to receive routine eye examinations after laser eye surgery.
Laser vision correction reduces the need for visual aids by eliminating the common prescriptions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. However, it does not cure or correct anything to do with the health of the eye. Glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and other health risks are generally only able to be detected and managed through specific testing during eye exams. Most diseases of the eye are much easier to treat with early detection, hence the importance of regular routine eye examinations.
Although the goal of laser vision correction is to reduce the dependency on visual aids, as we age there will often be a need for glasses for specific tasks, such as reading, computer use, or night driving.
Your surgeon will have instructions for post-operative care, which usually includes multiple visits to your Optometrist to assess the healing over the course of the first year. After that, routine eye examinations are usually recommended every year or two depending on age and any risk factors for other diseases.