Can I wear glasses after LASIK?

You can wear glasses after LASIK if needed, but most patients will not need them. If you have a small residual prescription, thin glasses may help for specific tasks like night driving. Do not get new glasses until vision stabilises (3 months).

Key Facts

• Do not get a new glasses prescription within 3 months of LASIK — vision still stabilising
• Wearing old glasses post-LASIK will make vision worse — the prescription has changed
• After 3 months, if vision is not 6/6, a refraction test will determine if glasses are needed
• Enhancement LASIK can eliminate residual prescription in most cases
• Glasses are rarely needed full-time after LASIK

Guidelines & Tips

• Do not wear your pre-LASIK glasses after surgery — the prescription is now wrong
• If you feel you need glasses at 1 week — wait, vision is still improving
• Get a formal refraction at 3 months to determine actual final prescription
• If reading glasses are needed, this is due to presbyopia (age), not LASIK
• Discuss enhancement options with your surgeon at the 3-month appointment
• Most patients discard their glasses permanently within 1 week of LASIK