Why One Eye Is Better Than the Other After LASIK Surgery – Is It Normal?

After undergoing LASIK surgery, many patients are surprised to notice that one eye seems to be sharper or more comfortable than the other. If you’re experiencing this, *don’t worry—it’s usually completely normal, especially during the *initial healing period.

Let’s explore why this happens and when, if ever, you should be concerned.

✅ Normal Reasons Why One Eye Might Seem Better Than the Other

1. Dominant Eye Effect

One of the most common reasons is *ocular dominance. Just like most people are right- or left-handed, one eye tends to be naturally dominant. Before LASIK, most patients don’t notice this. But after surgery, when each eye is checked separately, the brain may favor the dominant eye, making it *seem better—even if both eyes are nearly equal in function.

Think of an Olympic shooter: they always use one eye to aim. This preference becomes more noticeable after LASIK when patients start paying closer attention to each eye’s vision.

2. Different Healing Speeds

Each eye heals at its own pace. It’s common for one eye to stabilize faster than the other. This may temporarily cause an imbalance in vision clarity.

3. Post-LASIK Dryness

Dry eyes are a common temporary side effect after LASIK. Often, one eye may be drier than the other, causing vision to fluctuate. Lubricating eye drops usually help.

4. Minor Residual Refractive Error

Even with precise laser correction, a small residual power (like -0.25D or +0.25D) might remain in one eye. These tiny differences are not dangerous but can be noticeable to some patients.

5. Flap Healing or Micro-wrinkles

If a flap was created during LASIK (in flap-based procedures), slight differences in how the flap heals or minor micro-wrinkles in one eye can temporarily affect vision.

🕒 How Long Is This Difference Considered Normal?

First few days to a few weeks: Vision fluctuations and asymmetry are common.
Up to 3 months: Your vision will likely continue improving and stabilizing.
After 3 to 6 months: If the difference is still noticeable, a thorough evaluation is needed.

🚩 When Should You Be Concerned?

While minor differences are typically harmless, seek professional advice if you notice:

Blurry vision in one eye that persists beyond 3 months
*Ghosting, double vision, or *halos in one eye only
Pain, redness, or discharge
A sudden drop in vision after an initial improvement

✅ What You Can Do

Use lubricating drops as prescribed.
Avoid overanalyzing vision by checking each eye separately too often.
Attend all follow-up appointments with your eye surgeon.
If needed, an enhancement or touch-up procedure can be considered after a few months.

Final Thoughts

Having one eye perform slightly better than the other after LASIK is not uncommon—and usually not a cause for concern. With time, healing, and proper care, most patients achieve excellent vision in both eyes.