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Educational content only
This page is general patient education, not medical advice. It does not diagnose conditions, recommend specific treatments for you, or replace a conversation with your eye care provider. Always consult a qualified clinician before making decisions about your eye health.
Your eyes are usually at their peak through your 20s. The prescription has often stabilized; LASIK becomes an option; pregnancy considerations come into play for women. The decisions you make now affect the next 40 years.
Main decisions
Where you put your money — and what to watch for.
Surgical
LASIK, PRK, SMILE, or ICL
If you're tired of glasses and contacts, refractive surgery can change daily life. Requires stable prescription (no change for at least 12 months), healthy corneas, age 18+. LASIK and SMILE for most prescriptions; ICL for very high prescriptions or thin corneas.
Contacts
Daily disposables, often the simplest
If LASIK isn't right (cost, thin corneas, or pregnancy planning), daily disposable contacts give the same lifestyle benefits with no commitment. Switch to glasses any day. Replace daily — minimal infection risk.
For women planning pregnancy
Hold off on LASIK
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can shift corneal shape and refraction. Most surgeons want at least 12 months of stable prescription before LASIK, which means waiting at least 6 months after pregnancy and breastfeeding. LASIK isn't done during pregnancy.
Annual habit
Eye exams every 1-2 years
Don't skip exams just because vision is stable. This is the age when conditions like keratoconus and early glaucoma can appear with no symptoms. Caught early they're highly treatable. Your eye exam also checks for diabetes, hypertension, and other systemic disease.
See us promptly if
You have new floaters or flashes, sudden vision change, eye pain, or eye redness with light sensitivity. Young adults can develop retinal tears (especially if nearsighted), inflammation, and other conditions that need timely diagnosis.
Common questions
Honest answers to common questions.
Am I a LASIK candidate?+
Most people with stable mild-to-moderate myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism are candidates. Disqualifiers include unstable prescription, thin or irregular corneas (rule out keratoconus first), pregnancy or breastfeeding, certain autoimmune diseases, severe dry eye, and very high prescriptions (where ICL may be better). A consultation includes corneal mapping and dryness tests.
How long does LASIK last?+
The reshaping is permanent. About 90-95% of patients achieve 20/20 or better; about 5-10% need a touch-up. Presbyopia still develops in your 40s — LASIK doesn't prevent reading glasses later. Pregnancy and aging can introduce small shifts, but the surgery doesn't 'wear off.'
Should I be wearing reading glasses already?+
Probably not yet. Presbyopia typically starts around 40. If near work feels harder in your 30s, check for dry eye, mild farsightedness, or accommodative dysfunction first — these are correctable issues that mimic early presbyopia.
Can pregnancy cause permanent vision changes?+
Most pregnancy-related changes (slight prescription shifts, contact lens discomfort, mild dry eye) resolve within 3-6 months postpartum. Persistent changes after that warrant a fresh exam — sometimes the prescription has genuinely shifted and needs an update.
How often should I update my glasses?+
Every 1-2 years if your prescription is stable. More often if you notice eye strain, headaches, or your prescription is still changing. The lens technology improves over time too — a new pair every few years often feels noticeably better.