Permanence of
Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, CK, P-IOL, RLE, etc.

All refractive surgery techniques make permanent changes to the eye. Some more permanent than others.

Excimer laser assisted surgery techniques conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik all remove corneal tissue. Regression back toward the original refractive error is common with high myopia (nearsighted, shortsighted) correction and just about all hyperopia (farsighted, longsighted) correction. It is not likely regression with any excimer laser assisted surgery will regress all the way back to the original refractive error, but it is a possibility in some circumstances.

Intacs are removable, but not exactly reversible because there is an incision where they are inserted into the cornea.

P-IOL adds an anterior chamber IOL inside the eye, which can be removed, but incisions are made to put it in and out. RLE removes the natural lens of the eye and replaces it with an artificial lens that can be exchanged, but is sorely needed.

CK is about the only refractive surgery procedure that actually regresses on its own, eventually returning the cornea to virtually its preoperative state.

Despite the permanence of the changes from surgery, your eyes will continue to change at the same rate they did before surgery. Around the age of 40 just about everyone will become presbyopic and require reading glasses.