What happens after undergoing myopia surgery in old age?
Disease description:
I've had myopia for many years and am considering undergoing refractive surgery. However, I've always had some concerns, especially worrying about potential issues later in life. I'd like to ask, after having refractive surgery, will there be any effects on my eyes when I get older?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Shuai
After undergoing myopia surgery, vision may regress or conditions such as dry eye may occur in old age.
With aging, various organs in the human body undergo varying degrees of degeneration, and the eyes are no exception. Elderly individuals may develop cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other conditions. These issues are not directly related to whether myopia surgery has been performed, but they may affect the long-term maintenance of surgical outcomes.
Some patients may experience vision regression after myopia surgery as they age. This may be due to unstable corneal curvature or weakened accommodative function of the eye. Therefore, patients still need to maintain proper eye care post-surgery to prevent further vision deterioration.
Myopia surgery may temporarily affect the corneal sensory nerves, requiring time for recovery, which can lead to dry eye syndrome. This symptom may become more pronounced in old age, as tear secretion naturally declines with age. Patients may need long-term use of artificial tears or other methods to alleviate symptoms.
Myopia surgery is effective in improving vision for patients with myopia; however, with aging, age-related ocular changes and diseases may still occur, necessitating regular ophthalmic examinations.
