How many times can you get laser eye surgery?

If you’ve already had LASIK or another form of laser eye surgery and your vision has changed over time, you might be wondering:
“Can I have laser eye surgery again?”

It’s a great question—and the answer is yes, in some cases, laser eye surgery can be done more than once. However, whether you’re eligible for a second (or even third) procedure depends on several factors, including your eye health, corneal thickness, age, and visual goals.

In this post, we’ll break down what determines if a repeat laser eye procedure is possible, how safe it is, and when it’s typically recommended.

Why would someone need laser eye surgery more than once?

Laser eye surgery permanently reshapes the cornea to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism. In most cases, patients enjoy clear, glasses-free vision for many years—even decades.

But there are a few reasons your vision might change after surgery:

• Natural aging (especially after age 40)
• Changes in your prescription over time
• Undercorrection or overcorrection from the original procedure
• Residual astigmatism
• Development of other eye conditions, like cataracts

If your vision has changed and you're no longer seeing as clearly as you'd like, a repeat laser procedure—often called an enhancement—might be recommended.

How many times can you safely have laser eye surgery?

There is no set limit to the number of times you can have laser eye surgery, but in reality, most people don’t need more than one or two procedures in their lifetime.

What truly determines whether you can have laser eye surgery again is the thickness and health of your cornea. Each time the cornea is reshaped with a laser, a small amount of tissue is removed. There must be enough remaining corneal tissue to maintain the eye’s structural integrity.

That’s why we always perform detailed scans before considering a repeat procedure.

When is a laser eye surgery enhancement recommended?

An enhancement may be recommended if:

• Your vision has changed a year or more after the original procedure
• You’ve had regression (a gradual return of your original prescription)
• Your cornea is healthy, and enough thickness remains for safe reshaping
• Your lifestyle or job depends on precise visual clarity

We’ll never rush into a repeat procedure. Instead, we carefully evaluate your vision and eye health to determine the best approach.

Is it safe to have LASIK more than once?

Yes—in the right eyes, a repeat LASIK or PRK procedure can be very safe. But it requires thorough screening.

Safety depends on:

• Your corneal thickness
• Healing from your previous surgery
• Any signs of dry eye or scarring
• Your current prescription and age

If LASIK is no longer suitable (for example, if your corneas are too thin), we may recommend PRK instead. PRK doesn’t involve creating a flap, making it safer in certain repeat cases.

How long should you wait before having a second laser eye surgery?

Most enhancements are not considered until at least 3 to 6 months after your initial procedure—this gives your eyes time to heal and your vision time to stabilize.

If your vision is still changing, we’ll usually recommend waiting longer. Rushing into a second surgery could lead to less predictable results.

What are the alternatives if laser surgery isn’t an option?

If you’re not eligible for another laser procedure, don’t worry—there are still excellent options for vision correction, including:

• Refractive lens exchange (RLE) – ideal for patients over 50 with age-related vision changes
• Laser cataract surgery – for patients who’ve developed cataracts
• Implantable contact lenses (ICL) – an option for patients with thin corneas or very high prescriptions

At Elite LASIK & Cataract, we’ll walk you through all your options and help you choose what’s best for your eyes and your lifestyle.

Can your results be guaranteed the second time?

While no surgery can guarantee 20/20 vision, many patients who undergo enhancements experience excellent results—especially when their first surgery was successful and their eyes are still healthy.

We set realistic expectations and explain what kind of results you can expect before moving forward.

Do you have to pay again for an enhancement?

At Elite LASIK & Cataract in Indianapolis, we offer a LASIK Lifetime Plan for eligible patients. This plan includes free vision enhancements for life, provided you continue to meet safety criteria.

This means if your prescription changes and your eyes are still suitable for treatment, your enhancement could be fully covered—giving you peace of mind long after your initial procedure.

What’s the first step?

If your vision has changed since your laser eye surgery, or you’re wondering if an enhancement is right for you, we recommend starting with our free online suitability self-test.

This quick test can help you determine whether you might be eligible for a second laser procedure. From there, we’ll invite you in for a full evaluation and discuss your options face to face.

Final thoughts

Yes, you can have laser eye surgery more than once—but it depends on your eyes.

The best way to find out? Talk to a specialist, review your scans, and understand all your options. We’re here to guide you every step of the way—whether it’s your first procedure or a follow-up.

Ready to find out if you’re a candidate for LASIK or a second laser procedure?

Take our quick suitability self-test today—it only takes a minute.