Laser eye surgery is a simple procedure, that many people with sight problems opt for eventually. This quick procedure, which can take minutes to perform, is used to correct vision problems or treat conditions which can lead to further vision problems in the patients. It’s a procedure which, given it’s gaining popularity, I think most glasses wearers have at least thought about.
I’ve been wearing glasses for around a decade now. I started off needed glasses for reading, after feeling like the words were jumping around on the page and reading wasn’t entirely comfortable anymore.
My reading vision got a little worse over time – unsurprising, considering the amount of time I spend reading and on my laptop – until eventually, I needed vision for long distance as well.
I distinctly rememberbeing at the zoo with my partner and looking into an enclosure at some animal and thinking, “I can barely see it”. I booked an opticians appointment and unsurprisingly, I needed glasses.
And getting that first pair of long distance glasses was incredible. I finally felt like I could see in HD, rather than watching the world through an old VHS tape!
I can’t see too much without my glasses now and need to wear them more or less all the time. Which, luckily for me, I don’t mind because I actually really like wearing glasses. I think glasses go with my style and I don’t think I look too bad with them.
When I was a kid, I always wanted glasses. I would pray I’d need glasses whenever I went to the opticians. I got my wish – obviously – but I didn’t anticipate the fact that wearing glasses can be a little awkward at times.
I’m also not someone that wears or really wants to wear contact lenses. I used to work in an opticians and in order for me to sell contact lenses to customers, I had to know how to wear them myself.
After hours of practice, I still couldn’t get them in my dang eyes!
So, if I was to consider going glasses-free, thenlaser eye surgery would be my only other option. And although it is a quick and safe procedure, there would still be a lot to consider.
My whys and why nots of getting laser eye surgery:
Whys
It’s incredibly safe
Laser eye surgery is a very safe procedure. If you’re eligible for the surgery, which I most likely would be, the chances of success are very high and side effects, although common, are mild and short-lived.
Limited recovery time
You can usually go home the same day of the surgery and whilst experience some soreness, dryness or blurred vision for a while, it’s a fairly quick recovery time before you’re back to your normal routine – glasses free. I guess for a lifetime of never needing glasses anymore, a couple of weeks of side effects is a small price to pay.
No more awkward glasses
I like wearing glasses but there’s absolutely no denying the fact that they are awkward at times. If I want to snuggle up with my partner on the sofa, I either have to smush my glasses or take them off. But then if I take them off, I can’t see the TV.
And don’t get me started on the amount of times I have to clean them every day!
Exceptional success rate
99% of laser eye surgery recipients achieve 20/20 vision (statistics from Optical Express). Which is an exceptional rate of success for any one surgery. It’s not something you’d go into particularly worried about, I’d say.
Why nots
Eliminates my glasses from my personal style
Like I said, I love wearing my glasses. I think they suit me and I love incorporating them into my everyday style. When I DO need new glasses, I love spending the time deciding which frames to buy. LES would obviously take this joy away!
The cost and investment
Let’s not beat around the bush, it is an expensive treatment and it’s not available on the NHS unless you have certain eye conditions which can lead to blindness or problems with your eyes that cannot be corrected by wearing glasses or contacts.
Potential side effects
All surgeries have side effects, laser eye surgery is no different. Although they’re fairly mild, they may impact your daily life for a while. This is obviously something everyone going ahead with laser eye surgery would have to consider, especially if they have a job, children, pets or any other responsibilities.
Potential complications
You always have to weight up the pros and cons of any medical procedure, whether it’s for your health, personal maintenance or cosmetics. And all procedures CAN go wrong and have complications. But your eyesight is a high price to pay for a medical complication.