The prospect of better eyesight from LASIK can be quite alluring. There are a million reasons to consider a vision correction procedure, from lifestyle to career enhancement to simply having freedom from glasses and contacts.
Success of the procedure, however, depends on what you personally are looking to accomplish. Here are five ways LASIK surgery can change your life.
1. It Can Make Life More Convenient
You wake up and don’t have to fumble around for your glasses or put in your contacts. Get up and go. That’s time saved, and one less thing for you to stress about in the morning. And you don’t have to worry about forgetting to take out your contacts at night!
2. Worry-Free Vacation and Leisure Time
Enjoy the beach, swimming, exercising, hiking and golfing without worrying about smudging or breaking your glasses, or losing a contact. You should be able to relax and enjoy your outdoor adventures - not spend excess time worrying about your vision.
3. Save Money in the Long Run.
LASIK pays for itself in a few years. A 25-year-old getting LASIK today will save a ton on the costs of prescription glasses, contact lenses, contact care solutions and sterilizers over their lifetime. And your employer’s flexible spending account might cover the procedure.
4. It Can Help You Achieve Career Goals
Many people turn to LASIK to better perform their jobs or land their dream jobs. A police officer, firefighter, EMT or other first responder needs exceptional eyesight, and often works in conditions where it’s difficult, at best, to wear glasses or contact lenses.
Those in the military sometimes serve in harsh desert, jungle or Arctic conditions, or work in environments filled with oil, grease, dirt and grime where eyeglasses or contacts would be a problem.
Professional athletes need a special kind of precise vision as well as the ability to deal with tough conditions such as dirt, dust, wind, glare and sweat.
Beyond that, those in technical jobs – pilots, photographers, artists, engineers and scientists – need the sharpest possible vision to do their work, and could turn to LASIK to improve the quality of their output.
5. It Can Boost Your Confidence.
Some folks say they feel like a new person once they’re less reliant on, or even free of eyeglasses.
The latest research reports 99 percent of LASIK patients achieve better than 20/40 vision and more than 90 percent achieve 20/20 or better, according to the American Refractive Surgery Council. LASIK has a 96 percent patient satisfaction rate – the highest of any elective procedure.
But the procedure isn’t right for everyone, so a trip to your eyecare provider for a consultation is essential to determine if you’re a candidate.
You should set personal vision goals to help define LASIK success. The council suggests writing down your expectations to assist you and your surgeon in mapping out a course of action. Many people expect that LASIK will improve their lives but don’t always consider what exactly it is that the procedure will help them do, do better or enjoy more.
If the surgeon understands why you want LASIK, they can guide you through the experience and set appropriate expectations.
At Griffin Eye Center, ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Neil Griffin uses the most advanced lasers for speed, accuracy and safety to complete LASIK procedures that produce the best outcomes.
LASIK or laser vision correction consultation screenings are free at Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, S.C., locations. Appointments can be made at griffineyecenter.com or by calling (843) 449-6414 or toll-free at (888) 570-5789.
