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With the explosion of technology over the last few decades, the way we live, work, and play has completely changed. The field of medicine has benefited from these advancements, and in particular, laser eye surgery has made leaps and bounds. Today, LASIK is one of the world’s most popular elective procedures — approximately 30 million LASIK procedures have been performed worldwide. In the United States alone, almost 18 million people have chosen LASIK to correct their vision since it first came on the scene about 25 years ago. I personally had LASIK done in 2010 and have been thrilled with the results!

So what exactly is LASIK? LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis. In short, LASIK involves the use of a laser to reshape the cornea (the front surface of the eye) which changes the prescription of the eye. In a future article I’ll discuss who the best candidates are for LASIK, but for now, just know that the procedure is used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Below I’ve listed 5 reasons why now is the time for you to consider LASIK as a possible life-changing option to correct your vision.

1. Convenience of not wearing glasses and contact lenses

This, of course, is the obvious reason, but its value cannot be overstated. To be able to wake up and see the alarm clock without immediately grabbing glasses off the nightstand or forcing your groggy eyes to open enough to insert your contact lenses is such a great feeling. And what about waking up in the middle of the night to take care of a crying baby or put a scared child back to bed after they had a nightmare? Usually you’d either have to hassle with contact lenses or just stumble through the dark to take care of the situation. But with LASIK? No problem! You’ll be able to spot that toy in the hallway before you trip over it!

2. Great outcomes with long-term results

Now that LASIK has been around for about 25 years, we’ve been able to see if any long-term side effects have been noted. Fortunately, it has been shown to be a very safe and effective procedure, with more than 97% of people never needing any additional treatments (also called an enhancement). In other words, there’s an excellent chance that the results from LASIK will last for a very long time! As with any procedure, there are risks involved and possible side effects. However, individuals are screened for any possible complication to ensure they will be the best candidate possible for surgery. Newer technology has also greatly reduced the risk of complications during the actual surgery.

3. You can save money in the long run

The cost of surgery is one of the biggest hindrances to choosing LASIK. On average, you can expect to pay around $2,000 per eye (or $4,000 total) for the best technology available. But when compared to the cost of purchasing eyeglasses and contact lenses each year, the cost really does even out. One pair of glasses can easily run $300-500, and a year supply of contact lenses can average $200-300. Add to that the cost of contact lens solution, and you can see how quickly the numbers add up. In addition, there are great financing options for LASIK now, such as CareCredit (http://www.carecredit.com), which can assist in stretching out those payments over 12-24 months with little to no interest.

4. Active lifestyles need eyes that can keep up

How many times have we’ve seen a basketball player’s contact lens pop out in the middle of the game? The game stops while the player scrambles around searching for the lens. Even though contact lenses are great for many people, they can still get in the way sometimes. Whether it’s getting knocked around playing football, having sweat drip in your eyes while rock climbing, or swimming in the pool, LASIK can offer freedom from the inconveniences that contact lenses and glasses cause. Plus, swimming in contact lenses has been shown to lead to this nasty infection. Don’t let your eyes get in the way of living your life!

5. It is a quick and virtually painless procedure

One of the most common questions I hear regarding LASIK is “Doesn’t it hurt?” Simply put, the answer is no. I am talking from personal experience on this one. Numbing drops are applied to the eye in advance, so the only thing you feel during the procedure is pressure, but not pain. When the laser is actually correcting the vision, you don’t feel anything at all. And with improved technology, the laser works fast. For my prescription, it took approximately 20 seconds for the laser to correct each eye. The higher prescription, the longer the laser is applied. After surgery, I would describe my eyes as feeling dry, and I simply went home and went to bed. I woke up the next morning feeling great and seeing even better!

If you think you would be interested in LASIK and would like more information, the optometrists at MyEyes Optometry can evaluate your vision, determine if you are a good candidate, and recommend the best options to serve your needs. It has changed my life, and it could change yours!