Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy · Last reviewed July 2, 2026 · Review policy (Arabic)
Send your topography, OCT, or symptoms to Dr. Shaarawy. We respond in English within 24 hours.
"Will I see 6/6 (20/20) after LASIK?" It is one of the first questions patients ask before going ahead with surgery — and rightly so. Anyone considering LASIK wants to understand the outcome, the benefits, the risks, and what will actually change in daily life. The short answer: yes, most patients do achieve 6/6 vision after LASIK. But our approach is to give you a clear, evidence-based explanation, so this article walks through the details — how vision recovers after LASIK, and whether it can fully return to normal.
LASIK is the most common refractive surgery used to correct vision problems. Across its modern platforms, the procedure reshapes the cornea — the transparent front of the eye — with a precise excimer laser, so that light focuses properly on the retina at the back of the eye. For the right candidate, LASIK is often the safest and most effective alternative to glasses.
Which brings us to another common question: what are the side effects or complications of LASIK?
LASIK is a very safe procedure, but some patients experience mild side effects. The most common are:
These symptoms occur in only a small subset of patients and usually last just a few weeks. If they persist longer, it may suggest LASIK was not the right procedure for that patient — a determination only your surgeon can make.
LASIK corrects:
Who Is Not a Candidate for LASIK?
LASIK is generally not appropriate for these groups:
As we've noted in previous articles, eye conditions can present with overlapping symptoms, and not every patient is a LASIK candidate. Getting the diagnosis right takes an experienced specialist. Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy can:
Advantages of LASIK
A safe procedure with relatively quick results.
The most reliable alternative to glasses and contact lenses for the right candidate.
Other advantages:
The procedure is pain-free.
No sutures or post-op bandages are required.
Results come fast — patients typically notice significantly improved vision within hours of surgery.
Like most surgeries, LASIK has evolved through several generations. The main variants used today:
1. PRK (Surface Laser)
PRK is a refractive surgery that corrects vision errors by reshaping the cornea, since the cornea is responsible for refracting light toward the retina.
The surgeon uses an excimer laser to correct refractive errors and visual disturbances.
This works because clear vision normally requires light to pass through the lens and cornea, which together bend (refract) the light to focus it on the retina.
2. Femto-LASIK
3. SMILE Pro
The cornea is then reshaped to the required prescription. SMILE Pro is widely used for higher degrees of myopia and for patients with dry eye.
For more details on LASIK or corneal disease, follow Cornea Clinic.
