Trade In Old Glasses with Lasik Surgery
Imperfect vision is very common throughout the world, and even in the United States. Many ophthalmic patients need corrective lenses such as glasses to experience a clear image of their environment; otherwise, they can only be greeted with blurred visions of their world due to refractive vision errors. While glasses can make it easier to navigate one’s environment, dependence on corrective lenses can make some activities more difficult and less enjoyable. Many patients who are dependent on glasses feel that they cannot lead an active lifestyle for fear their glasses may be lost or damaged. Even a jog or a bike ride can cause glasses to fall off and be lost or broken—leading to expensive replacement costs and imperfect vision until the corrective lenses can be replaced.
The introduction of laser vision correction, including Lasik surgery, allows ophthalmic patients who previously struggled with corrective lenses to experience freedom from their old glasses and contact lenses. Lasik surgery is the most popular laser eye surgery performed in both the world and the United States. Millions of patients have undergone the procedure; the majority of them experienced a great improvement in vision with no complications, and report that they are happy with their results. As a matter of fact, most patients report that the Lasik procedure is life changing!
A skilled Lasik surgeon is often able to give a good Lasik candidate crisp, clear vision that is long-lasting. Many patients who decide to undergo the surgery achieve 20/20 vision or better! A good candidate for Lasik surgery will meet several qualifications: be over the age of 18, have a stable vision prescription for about two years, be free from eye disease and infection for at least a year, have minor to moderate refractive vision errors such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, and have average sized corneas with no history of corneal surgery. For patients who meet these qualifications, Lasik is a very low-risk procedure that produces incredible results. However, if a patient does not qualify for Lasik and would still like to explore the options to lessen their dependence on corrective lenses, a laser eye surgeon can suggest an alternative laser eye surgery.
Patients can see immediate results after their Lasik surgery. Most patients are able to clearly see the operating room as soon as the procedure is completed! Though the vision improvement is immediate, patients still must give their eyes appropriate rest after their surgery. However, they are generally allowed to return to their normal routines only a day after their procedure, and are often given the OK to be more active shortly after. After the short recuperation period, Lasik patients are impressed with the new clarity of their vision; many are able to see the world in ways they never thought was possible! Whether patients decide to use this new freedom from glasses to pursue outdoor adventures or simply content themselves with seeing the alarm clock clearly without hunting for their lenses, patients truly savor their independence.