Written by Gangnam Brand Eye Clinic
2025.02.20
One of the most common questions asked by patients visiting the clinic is, "I've been wearing contact lenses (including circle lenses) or hard lenses for over 10 years, can I still undergo surgery?"
To give you the conclusion first, wearing contact lenses is not directly related to LASIK or LASEK surgery. However, if wearing contact lenses leads to inflammation such as keratitis, or if prolonged use causes insufficient oxygen supply to the cornea, there is a higher risk of neovascularization (the growth of new blood vessels). If new blood vessels develop in the eye, it may make the surgery more difficult.
However, wearing contact lenses for a long time does not automatically make LASIK or LASEK surgery impossible. The decision to proceed with vision correction surgery depends on the condition of the eyes at the time of the examination.
The key factors that determine whether LASIK or LASEK surgery is possible during the examination are corneal thickness and shape. Corneal thickness is genetic and varies from person to person. Therefore, even if someone has worn contact lenses for over 10 years, surgery can still be performed if the corneal thickness, shape, and absence of other eye diseases are assessed to be suitable.
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