Can LASEK Surgery Improve Night Vision?
If you’re considering LASEK surgery, it’s natural to wonder how it might affect your vision at night. Night-time vision is a crucial aspect of daily life whether it’s driving home after a late shift, walking in low-light areas, or simply enjoying a clear view of the evening sky. Many patients hesitate because of concerns about glare, halos, or reduced contrast after laser eye procedures. I’m here to walk you through what you can realistically expect regarding night vision after LASEK and how it may improve over time.
Understanding LASEK Surgery
Before diving into night vision, let’s start with the basics. LASEK stands for Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy, a procedure designed to correct refractive errors like myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK, which creates a flap in the cornea, LASEK preserves more of the corneal tissue by gently lifting the outer layer (the epithelium) and reshaping the cornea with an excimer laser. After the laser treatment, the epithelial layer is repositioned, allowing natural healing.
Because LASEK involves surface treatment rather than creating a flap, recovery can take slightly longer than LASIK, but the benefits include a reduced risk of flap-related complications and suitability for patients with thinner corneas.
Why Night Vision Concerns Arise
Night vision issues after laser eye surgery are relatively common in the early stages of recovery. The primary complaints patients report include:
- Glare: Bright lights, such as oncoming headlights, may appear to scatter.
- Halos: Rings around lights, particularly in low-light conditions.
- Reduced contrast sensitivity: Difficulty distinguishing objects in dim light or at night.
These effects occur because the cornea is healing and reshaping itself. The epithelium, which is temporarily lifted and then allowed to heal, can create minor irregularities on the corneal surface. Additionally, pupils tend to dilate in low-light conditions, meaning more peripheral cornea comes into play, which may not be perfectly smooth immediately after surgery.
It’s essential to remember that these night vision effects are usually temporary, particularly with LASEK, and many patients notice improvements as the cornea stabilises over the first few months.
How LASEK Surgery Can Improve Night Vision
Now, let’s focus on the big question: can LASEK improve night vision? The short answer is yes, for most people, but with some nuances.
Correcting Refractive Errors Enhances Clarity
The primary purpose of LASEK is to correct refractive errors. If you are short-sighted, long-sighted, or have astigmatism, your vision in low-light conditions may already be compromised. Glasses or contact lenses help, but they aren’t always perfect, especially for driving at night. By reshaping the cornea to the ideal curvature, LASEK can significantly improve the overall clarity of your vision, including at night.
I’ve found that many patients are pleasantly surprised when they no longer struggle to see road signs or streetlights without the distortion caused by lenses. Once your cornea stabilises, this clarity often surpasses what glasses or contact lenses provided, particularly in low-light scenarios.
Reducing Dependence on Corrective Lenses
Night vision issues can be exacerbated by wearing glasses or contact lenses. Contacts may dry out, shift, or even cause glare under headlights, while glasses can reflect light and create distracting halos. LASEK reduces or eliminates your dependence on corrective lenses, which alone can improve night vision experiences.
Think about it this way: once your eyes are corrected directly, you remove the lens-related obstacles that previously impaired night-time clarity.
Long-Term Corneal Regularisation
While early post-operative weeks may include glare or halos, the cornea gradually smooths and stabilises over months following LASEK. As healing progresses, night vision tends to improve naturally. For many patients, contrast sensitivity the ability to distinguish subtle differences in light and dark returns to or even exceeds pre-surgery levels.
It’s important to note that the final visual outcome may take anywhere from three to six months, depending on individual healing rates. Patience is key.
Minimising Higher-Order Aberrations
Some patients experience higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after laser surgery, which can affect night vision. LASEK’s technique, especially with modern wavefront-guided or topography-guided lasers, is designed to minimise HOAs. This reduces post-operative issues like halos or glare and helps achieve crisper night vision.
Suitable for Thin Corneas and Higher Risk Eyes
Patients with thin corneas or certain corneal irregularities might not be suitable for LASIK, which could carry additional risks. LASEK offers a safer alternative, ensuring night vision can still improve safely. By avoiding flap creation, LASEK preserves structural integrity and reduces potential complications that could otherwise compromise night vision in the long term.
Early Post-Operative Night Vision
It’s normal to experience some temporary night vision issues after LASEK. Here’s what you can expect during the early healing period:
The First Week
During the first few days to a week, your vision may appear blurry, and night-time glare can feel pronounced. This is because the epithelium is still healing, and the cornea hasn’t fully settled into its new shape. Using prescribed eye drops and avoiding rubbing your eyes is essential.
Weeks Two to Four
By the second and third week, many patients notice gradual improvements. Glare and halos may decrease, although bright lights may still be slightly diffused. Driving at night might be possible, but extra caution is recommended.
One to Three Months
At this stage, most patients see significant improvements in night vision. The corneal surface is smoother, and higher-order aberrations reduce. You may find that your ability to distinguish objects in low-light conditions is better than before surgery, especially if you previously relied on glasses or contacts that weren’t optimised.
Beyond Three Months
For most people, night vision continues to stabilise up to six months post-surgery. By this point, glare, halos, and contrast sensitivity issues are generally minimal. If any residual night vision problems remain, your surgeon may recommend minor enhancements or wavefront-guided adjustments, although these are rarely needed.
Factors That Affect Night Vision Outcomes
While LASEK generally improves night vision, several factors can influence your results:
Age
Younger patients tend to heal more rapidly and achieve better night vision outcomes. Older patients may experience slower corneal recovery, which can temporarily affect clarity in low-light conditions.
Pre-Existing Eye Conditions
Conditions like cataracts, retinal issues, or glaucoma can influence night vision regardless of LASEK. If you have any of these conditions, discuss them with your ophthalmologist, as surgery may not completely resolve night-time difficulties.
Pupil Size
Patients with larger pupils may notice more glare or halos during early recovery because more peripheral cornea is involved in vision under dim lighting. Modern laser technology can often adjust for pupil size to reduce these effects.
Healing Response
Individual healing varies. Some patients experience very smooth corneal recovery, while others may have minor irregularities. Adhering to post-operative care instructions and attending follow-up appointments is critical for optimal night vision outcomes.
Laser Technology
Wavefront-guided and topography-guided LASEK procedures offer more precise corneal reshaping, reducing higher-order aberrations and improving both day and night vision compared with older laser systems.
Tips to Support Night Vision Recovery
You can take several steps to ensure your night vision improves as efficiently as possible:
- Follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions. Use all prescribed eye drops, especially anti-inflammatory and lubricating drops.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes. This can disrupt the healing epithelium.
- Protect your eyes from bright light. Sunglasses during the day and avoiding bright, direct lights in the early weeks help reduce strain.
- Be patient. Night vision stabilisation can take months, so avoid judging the results too early.
- Attend all follow-ups. Your surgeon will monitor corneal healing and address any residual issues promptly.
Real Patient Experiences
Many patients report gradual improvement in night vision after LASEK, often describing it as “better than I expected”. Initially, glare and halos may feel concerning, but these effects typically subside over time. By three to six months, patients frequently note that they can drive at night without glasses, see streetlights clearly, and even perceive subtle contrasts in dim conditions more easily than before surgery.
Some patients, especially those with higher pre-operative prescriptions or larger pupils, may experience lingering halos. In these cases, corrective enhancements or specialised lenses can further improve night vision outcomes.
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When comparing LASEK with other laser procedures like LASIK and PRK, there are notable differences in night vision recovery and healing. LASEK typically offers gradual improvement in night vision over 3–6 months, making it ideal for patients with thin corneas as it preserves corneal tissue and reduces flap-related complications. Surface healing occurs within 1–2 weeks, but full visual stability can take several months. LASIK, on the other hand, usually provides faster recovery, often within 1–2 weeks, with quick vision restoration and minimal discomfort, though there is a risk of flap-related issues. PRK shares similarities with LASEK as a surface procedure, reducing flap risks, but it often involves longer initial discomfort, with full visual stabilisation also taking 3–6 months.
In terms of long-term night vision, LASEK and PRK are comparable, offering safe and effective correction with slightly longer recovery but lower risk of complications affecting night vision.
FAQs:
- Does LASEK permanently improve night vision?
LASEK can lead to lasting improvements in night vision for many patients, especially those whose night-time difficulties were caused by refractive errors such as myopia or astigmatism. Once the cornea stabilises after surgery, the eye can focus light more accurately, which naturally enhances clarity in low-light environments. While early healing may involve temporary glare or halos, these effects typically fade over several months. Long-term improvement depends on individual healing, age, and overall eye health, but most patients enjoy clearer night-time vision for years after the procedure. - Is night vision worse right after LASEK?
Yes, it’s completely normal for night vision to feel worse immediately after LASEK. During the first few weeks, the corneal epithelium is still healing and may create slight surface irregularities that scatter light. As a result, patients may notice halos, glare, and reduced contrast when looking at headlights, streetlamps, or bright screens in dim conditions. These symptoms are temporary and gradually improve as the cornea smooths out. By the three-month mark, most patients experience significant visual clarity, and night vision becomes far more stable. - How long does it take for night vision to fully recover after LASEK?
Night vision recovery varies from person to person, but the majority of patients notice a steady improvement over the first one to three months. Complete stabilisation, including the reduction of glare and halos, may take up to six months. This timeline reflects the way the epithelium and deeper corneal layers restructure after surgery. Younger patients often recover faster, while those with higher prescriptions may take a little longer. Consistently following post-operative care instructions supports smoother, quicker visual recovery. - Will I still experience glare or halos at night months after surgery?
Some patients may continue to notice mild halos or light scatter several months after LASEK, especially if they had large pupils or high prescriptions before treatment. In most cases, these effects are subtle and do not interfere with daily activities such as driving. As the cornea continues to refine its shape, these visual disturbances usually decrease. If they persist beyond six months, your surgeon can evaluate the corneal surface and discuss options such as enhancement surgery or targeted eye drops to improve clarity. - Can LASEK help if my night vision is already poor before surgery?
If your night vision problems are caused by refractive errors, LASEK can significantly help by reshaping the cornea and improving the way light enters the eye. Many people with myopia struggle with night-time clarity even while wearing glasses or contact lenses, particularly due to reflections, dryness, or lens distortions. By correcting the vision directly at the corneal level, LASEK often provides clearer, sharper night vision than corrective lenses. However, if your poor night vision is due to other conditions like cataracts or retinal issues, LASEK may not fully resolve the problem. - What role does pupil size play in night vision after LASEK?
Pupil size becomes larger in dim lighting, which means more peripheral cornea contributes to vision when it’s dark. If your pupils naturally dilate more than average, you may notice stronger halos or glare during the early healing stages because the outer corneal tissue may take longer to smooth. Modern wavefront-guided LASEK takes pupil diameter into account during planning, helping minimise night-time visual disturbances. Most patients with larger pupils still achieve excellent night vision as healing progresses. - Can LASEK cause long-term night vision problems?
Long-term night vision problems after LASEK are uncommon, especially with modern laser technology. Most issues such as glare or halos occur due to normal healing and diminish with time. Permanent night vision disturbances are rare and are typically linked to pre-existing eye conditions, irregular healing responses, or outdated laser techniques. Choosing an experienced surgeon who uses wavefront-guided or topography-guided technology greatly reduces the chances of long-term complications and supports clearer night-time results. - Is it safe to drive at night shortly after LASEK?
Driving at night in the first few weeks after LASEK is generally not recommended because the eyes are still healing, and symptoms like glare or halos can affect judgment and reaction time. Most patients regain enough clarity to drive comfortably at night within two to four weeks, but this varies. Your surgeon will assess your vision during follow-up appointments and let you know when it’s safe to resume night driving. It’s important not to rush this step and to prioritise your safety and the safety of others. - How does LASEK compare with LASIK and PRK in terms of night vision?
LASEK and PRK tend to have similar outcomes for night vision, as both are surface-based procedures that do not involve creating a corneal flap. This makes them particularly suitable for patients with thin corneas or certain irregularities. LASIK, by contrast, typically offers faster visual recovery and fewer early night-time disturbances, but it comes with flap-related considerations that LASEK avoids. In the long term, all three procedures generally provide comparable night vision clarity, although LASEK and PRK may take a little longer to stabilise. - What can I do to support better night vision recovery after LASEK?
Supporting your night vision recovery after LASEK requires consistent care and patience. Using your prescribed eye drops helps reduce dryness, inflammation, and temporary corneal irregularities that can contribute to glare. Protecting your eyes from bright or direct light during the early healing period prevents irritation and promotes smoother surface regeneration. Staying well hydrated, avoiding rubbing your eyes, and attending all follow-up appointments ensure the cornea heals evenly and predictably. Most importantly, understanding that night vision improvements happen gradually allows you to trust the healing process without unnecessary worry.
Final Thoughts: Achieving Clear Night Vision with LASEK
If you’re considering LASEK surgery, night vision is a valid concern, but one that usually improves rather than worsens over time. While temporary glare, halos, and reduced contrast sensitivity are common in the early healing stages, most patients see significant improvements within three to six months. LASEK corrects refractive errors, reduces dependence on corrective lenses, and smooths the corneal surface, all of which contribute to better night-time vision.
Every patient’s experience is unique, so it’s crucial to discuss your personal vision goals, pupil size, and any pre-existing conditions with a qualified ophthalmologist. By understanding the healing process and following post-operative care instructions, you can expect clear, sharp night vision that often surpasses what glasses or contact lenses once provided. If you’re considering LASEK surgery in London, you can reach out to Eye Clinic London to discuss whether this treatment is the right choice for your vision goals.
Reference:
- Kim, T.W., Wee, W.R., Lee, J.H. & Kim, M.K., 2007. Contrast sensitivity after LASIK, LASEK, and wavefront‑guided LASEK with the VISX S4 laser. Journal of Refractive Surgery, 23(4), pp. 355–361. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17455830/
- Li, S.M. et al., 2016. Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) versus photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for correction of myopia: Systematic review. BMC Ophthalmology, 16, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5032141/
- Zhao, L.Q. et al., 2014. Laser‑Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy versus Laser In Situ Keratomileusis: clinical outcomes and safety. Journal of Ophthalmology.: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4058142/
- Wierzbowska, J., Pniakowska, Z. & Roszkowska, A. M. (2025). Contrast Sensitivity and Stereopsis Outcomes Following LASIK Presbyopia Correction Based on the Corneal Aberration Modulation or Corneal Multifocality Induction Methods. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(3), 871. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/3/871
- Kim, T. W., Wee, W. R., Lee, J. H. & Kim, M. K. (2007). Contrast sensitivity after LASIK, LASEK, and wavefront‑guided LASEK with the VISX S4 laser. Journal of Refractive Surgery, 23(4), 355–361. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17455830