I remove my glasses to read. Will I need reading glasses after LASIK?
If you're over age 40 and you see better up close when you remove your eyeglasses, you have nearsightedness and presbyopia.
LASIK surgery can correct your nearsightedness so you can see distant objects more clearly, but in doing so it will make your age-related presbyopia more apparent, making near objects blurry without reading glasses. To see clearly up close after LASIK, you'll need reading glasses if you're over age 40 (even though you don't need them now). LASIK for farsightedness can be effective for younger patients (pre-presbyopia) to eliminate the need for reading glasses.
For the most functional vision overall, you may want to consider a type of presbyopia surgery called monovision LASIK. Monovision intentionally leaves one eye mildly nearsighted. Though you may not see distant objects quite as clearly with monovision (compared to both eyes being fully corrected), it will enable you to see better up close and decrease your dependence on reading glasses. Your eye doctor can demonstrate monovision to you during your pre-operative eye exam and LASIK consultation.
Note: This information is for general education purposes only. It is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice from your eye doctor or refractive surgeon.
