Can Contoura Vision Be Done After Previous LASIK Surgery?

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Can Contoura Vision Be Done After Previous LASIK Surgery?

Table of Contents

  1. Why Patients May Need LASIK Enhancement?
  2. Understanding Contoura Vision: What Makes It Different?
  3. Can Touch-Up LASIK with Contoura Be Done?
  4. Who Is a Candidate for Contoura After LASIK Surgery?
  5. Potential Benefits of Choosing Contoura Vision Post-LASIK
  6. Possible Risks and Considerations
  7. What to Expect During the Procedure and Recovery
  8. How Does Recovery After Contoura Surgery Look?
  9. Conclusion
  10. FAQs


Laser vision correction has transformed the way millions experience the world, getting rid of glasses and contact lenses and improving daily life. Yet, eyesight can change with age, lifestyle, and individual factors, occasionally leading to a return of blurred vision or the development of new visual challenges after even the most successful LASIK procedures. For those seeking further improvement, Contoura Vision emerges as an advanced, scientifically driven solution worth exploring, especially if you’re wondering whether it can be utilized following a previous LASIK surgery. 

This detailed guide unpacks the possibilities, benefits, and clinical considerations surrounding Contoura after LASIK, helping you make informed choices about your visual future.

Why Patients May Need LASIK Enhancement?

Vision correction is a journey, not just a single event. After LASIK, some individuals notice changes in their eyesight over the years. The reasons for requiring enhancement are varied but perfectly natural. 

Some common causes include:

Regression of Initial Correction: The eyes can slowly return toward their original prescription over several years, especially in younger patients or those with high corrections.

Age-Related Changes: As people enter their 40s and beyond, presbyopia can occur (the gradual loss of near vision), which isn’t corrected by original LASIK.

New or Uncovered Visual Errors: Subtle irregularities or the emergence of higher-order aberrations, visual distortions not addressed by standard LASIK, may become more noticeable with time.

Understanding Contoura Vision: What Makes It Different?

Contoura Vision is a state-of-the-art, topography-guided LASIK enhancement that utilizes advanced diagnostics and treatment planning. Unlike earlier LASIK technologies, which correct general spectacles prescription (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism), Contoura Vision provides an individualized, ultra-precise solution tailored to the microscopic landscape of each person’s cornea. How it stands apart:

Detailed Corneal Mapping:

Contoura Vision creates a digital ‘fingerprint’ of your cornea by capturing over 22,000 data points from the cornea’s surface. This mapping identifies shape, curves, and subtle imperfections invisible to the naked eye and beyond the reach of standard refraction tests.

Custom Treatment Planning:  

Using the topography data, the laser shapes the cornea with sub-micron accuracy. This approach can address not just spectacle numbers, but the unique irregularities and higher-order aberrations affecting clarity, especially significant for night driving, glare, halos, and contrast sensitivity.

Proven Benefits: 

Clinical studies and real-world outcomes show Contoura Vision delivers superior clarity, sharper contrast, and a decreased likelihood of glare and halos. Many patients report that their post-procedure vision is clearer than they ever achieved with glasses or contact lenses.

Can Touch-Up LASIK with Contoura Be Done?

The answer is often yes, but with a nuanced, patient-centered approach. After initial LASIK surgery, your cornea may already have undergone significant reshaping. Deciding if Contoura Vision is possible depends on a blend of factors, and clinical expertise is essential. Eligibility is assessed by examining:

  • Corneal Thickness: The safety of any further laser treatment hinges on having enough corneal tissue. If sufficient tissue remains, precise reshaping is possible.
  • Health and Clarity of the Cornea: The cornea should not be scarred, unusually dry, or affected by ectasia (bulging).
  • Stability of Vision: The prescription must be stable for at least 12 months with no progressive changes or fluctuations.
  • Detailed Corneal Topography: A full mapping identifies whether the visual concerns originate from corneal irregularities or other eye components.

If you meet safety criteria, Contoura Vision is an excellent next step, outperforming a simple repeat of standard LASIK due to its individualized approach.

Who Is a Candidate for Contoura After LASIK Surgery?

Not everyone is automatically eligible for a Contoura enhancement after LASIK. Patient selection is a science and must be based on a comprehensive clinical assessment. You may qualify if you:

  • Have developed regression, new refractive errors, or continued symptoms (e.g., glare, halos, clarity loss) after LASIK.
  • Possess a healthy corneal anatomy with adequate residual thickness as measured by advanced imaging.
  • Demonstrate stable vision for at least six to twelve months.
  • Are free from severe dry eyes, keratoconus, corneal scars, or other surgical contraindications.
  • Have expectations that match the realities and limitations of further laser correction.

The expert team at Planet Lasik by Centre For Sight uses this series of LASIK eligibility tests, providing clear risk assessment and expected outcomes before recommending re-treatment.

Potential Benefits of Choosing Contoura Vision Post-LASIK

Choosing Contoura Vision for enhancement after LASIK unlocks multiple scientifically validated advantages. Patients frequently report life-changing improvements beyond just “better numbers” on the eye chart. Benefits include:

  1. Superior Visual Clarity: Correction of minute corneal irregularities for ultra-clear, natural vision
  2. Enhanced Night Vision: Reduction in night glare, starbursts, and halos makes night driving safer and more comfortable
  3. Less Dependence on Glasses: Achieve greater spectacle independence, even in complex cases that standard enhancement might not address
  4. Personalized Outcomes: Highly tailored to unique corneal features, resulting in optimized sharpness
  5. Reduced Higher-Order Aberrations: Addresses vision imperfections that cause ghosting, smudging, and reduced contrast

Patients with complex needs, such as prior flap complications, thin corneas, or residual irregularities after LASIK, are often prime beneficiaries of topography-guided approaches like Contoura.

Possible Risks and Considerations

Every surgical procedure carries some risks and potential short- or long-term side effects. A transparent discussion about these factors with your eye specialist is key to making an informed decision. Common considerations include:

  • Overcorrection or Undercorrection: While rare, further corrections or enhancements may occasionally be necessary.
  • Dry Eyes: Both first-time and enhancement LASIK can temporarily worsen dryness, usually managed easily with medication.
  • Infection or Inflammation:  Uncommon with modern protocols, but timely medical management is critical if it occurs.
  • Flap Complications: Previous surgery means a corneal flap already exists. Handling and re-lifting this flap requires special skill and carries added considerations.
  • Residual Irregularity: Occasionally, a complex cornea remains imperfect after the best available technology. Expectations should always be individually tailored and realistic.

Consulting an advanced, accredited centre, like Planet Lasik, which adheres to strict safety protocols, the latest laser systems, and leading surgeons, significantly reduces risk.

What to Expect During the Procedure and Recovery

Preparation, procedure, and healing for Contoura after LASIK follow a careful, patient-focused pathway: Step-by-step procedure:

  1. Comprehensive Evaluation: Corneal topography, thickness, and overall eye health are thoroughly checked.
  2. Detailed Planning: Your custom surgery profile is created using advanced mapping and artificial intelligence algorithms.
  3. Numbing & Positioning: Eye drops numb your eye. A gentle device keeps lids open, ensuring comfort throughout.
  4. Re-lifting the Flap (if needed): For previous LASIK patients, the surgeon may carefully lift the existing flap. If a flapless prior procedure was done, surface laser (such as SmartSurf or PRK) may be considered.
  5. Laser Correction: The laser reshapes the cornea precisely, guided by your topography profile.
  6. Replacement & Recovery: The flap is repositioned. Eye shields are provided for protection.

How Does Recovery After Contoura Surgery Look?

  1. First Few Hours: Some watering, mild stinging, and blurred vision are common. Resting with eyes closed is usually recommended.
  2. 24-48 Hours: Rapid recovery of vision. Most can return to routine activities by the next day, though strenuous tasks and swimming should be avoided for a week.
  3. First 7 Days: Visual sharpness improves further. Eye drops and follow-up checks prevent dryness or infection.
  4. Long-Term: Full results stabilize over several weeks. Clear, comfortable vision becomes the new normal.

Conclusion

Contoura Vision stands at the forefront of modern refractive surgery, offering hope, clarity, and truly customized vision enhancement, even for those who’ve undergone LASIK before. This advanced technology brings new possibilities for individuals seeking renewed freedom from glasses or contact lenses, clearer night vision, and sharper day-to-day sight.

If you notice vision changes years after LASIK, or struggle with night glare or visual discomfort, a Contoura Vision assessment at Planet Lasik by Centre For Sight may be your next step.

FAQs

  • How soon can I get Contoura Vision after LASIK?
    Patients should generally wait at least 6 months to one year after LASIK before considering Contoura Vision to ensure stable vision.
  • What if my cornea is too thin after LASIK?
    If the cornea is too thin, other options may need to be explored.
  • Is Contoura Vision better than repeating standard LASIK?
    Contoura Vision often provides better outcomes compared to repeating standard LASIK due to its precision and ability to correct corneal irregularities.
  • How much does a Contoura enhancement cost?
    Costs can vary based on the clinic and location, but patients should discuss this with their provider.
  • Is the recovery time longer for Contoura after LASIK?
    Recovery time for Contoura Vision post-LASIK is typically similar to the initial procedure, with most patients experiencing rapid visual improvement.