For the last several years, more than 600,000 people per year have undergone laser eye surgery.
In nearly all cases of LASIK (short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses), patients see phenomenal results and marked improvement in their vision.
Keep in mind, though, that there are lots of reasons to consider this surgery that have nothing to do with improving your vision.
If you want better eyesight but are worried about the risks of LASIK, keep reading. Outlined below are some of the additional benefits you can enjoy when you undergo this procedure.
What is Laser Eye Surgery?
A lot of people who are considering LASIK have questions like “does LASIK work?” and “what happens during laser eye surgery?”
Here’s a basic primer of how LASIK works and why it’s an effective treatment option for those with poor eyesight:
- LASIK uses a special laser to reshape the cornea
- This reshaping allows light that enters the eye to be focused onto the retina in the proper way, allowing for clearer vision without glasses or contact lenses
- LASIK is a pain-free procedure
- It takes about 15 minutes to complete the surgery on both eyes
Most people see improvements to their vision immediately after the surgery is over. Their vision continues to improve in the days following it as well.
Benefits of LASIK
The most obvious benefit of LASIK is improved vision. There are plenty of other reasons to consider it, though, including the following:
1. Allergy Relief
Many people find that they experience fewer allergy symptoms after they undergo laser eye surgery.
When you wear glasses or contacts, you’re more likely to touch your face and eyes on a regular basis.
Whether you’re taking off and putting on your glasses or adjusting your contact lenses, there are a lot of opportunities for dust, germs, and allergens to make contact with your eyes. This, in turn, can lead to itchy eyes, swelling, and other allergy symptoms.
Airborne allergens can also get caught in your eye and stick to your contact lens, leading to worsened symptoms during peak allergy season.
After undergoing LASIK, you won’t have to touch your eyes or face as often, and you’ll have an easier time getting irritants out of your eye without having to remove a contact lens beforehand.
2. Less Irritation
Allergens aren’t the only things that can cause eye irritation. Sometimes, your contacts themselves give you trouble all on their own, especially if you put them in incorrectly or wear them longer than you’re supposed to.
If you’re tired of irritation from your contact lenses, or if you’re tired of feeling irritated because you can’t see without them or your glasses, it might be time for you to try LASIK and give your eyes (and yourself) a well-deserved break.
3. More Room for Activities
LASIK can create more room in your life for activities.
First of all, you can save a lot of time when you undergo surgery. Once you’ve healed, you won’t have to worry about putting in and taking out contact lenses every day, nor will you need to waste time looking for your glasses before you can see what’s going on around you.
LASIK also frees you up to participate in activities you may have avoided before. For example, you’ll be able to play sports without fear of getting dirt in your contacts or breaking your glasses.
4. Emergency Preparedness
Let’s say the fire alarm goes off in your apartment building in the middle of the night, or you get a call from a family member who needs your help.
If you wear glasses or contacts, you’ll have to dig around and find them or put them in before you can get out of the building or go help someone else. With LASIK, you’re ready to go and able to see with total precision from the second you open your eyes.
5. Increased Confidence
If you’re someone who doesn’t like wearing contacts but also doesn’t like the way you look when wearing glasses, it’s easy to feel self-conscious as you go about your day. With LASIK, you can get a confidence boost and feel better about the way you look without having to struggle to put in contact lenses every morning.
6. Significant Savings
Of course, we can’t forget about the cost-saving benefits of LASIK over other vision treatment options.
It’s true that the upfront cost of LASIK can be high. However, how much money do you spend each year on contact lenses, new glasses, and visits to the eye doctor?
If you added up all of that money, then multiplied it by the number of years you’ve been wearing glasses or contacts and plan on continuing to do so, you’ll find that LASIK is far more affordable.
Think of all the money you can save down the line!
What are the Risks?
There are some minor risks associated with LASIK. Most people don’t experience any complications when they undergo this procedure. It’s still important to be aware of what can happen, though.
For example, many people experience dry eyes for a short while after their surgery. In most cases, the dryness goes away with time, but it can be a bit of a nuisance at first.
Sometimes, patients experience other side effects like eye pain or decreased night vision afterward. These side effects are rare, though, and can almost always be avoided by seeking treatment from a qualified and experienced surgeon. Medicine like Durezol can help greatly in such cases as it is especially indicated for people who have undergone ocular surgery. If you are looking to buy this prescription drug, get coupon online to enjoy steller discounts on the product.
As long as you do your research and choose the right surgeon for the job, your chances of experiencing complications are slim.
Learn More About LASIK Today
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits that laser eye surgery can provide.
Do the benefits (beyond the fact that it can improve your eyesight) outweigh the risks for you? If so, you may want to look into getting LASIK yourself.
Do you want to learn more about LASIK or other procedures that have the potential to enhance your life? Check out the Health section of our site today for additional insight.