Clear unrestricted vision is a dream for those with long standing visual deficiencies. With lasik eye surgery, that dream is becoming a reality for millions. It's not for everyone. Among factors to consider are age, career, activities, cost, risks and other health issues.
Consider Sandy. In reviewing all the options, she chose lasik. Although she's young, she's beyond the lower age limit of 21. She's not into contact sports, so those risks are negligible.
Sandy's insurance would not cover lasik procedures, but she lives frugally and had saved the money for it. She estimated that the costs of lasik surgery would be cheaper than other solutions when considered over a ten-year period.
Her vision had stayed at the same prescription for over a year, so her visual stability was good. Sandy wasn't pregnant and expect to be in the next year, so her hormones should not cause her visual stability to fluctuate. She had no problems with dry eyes, nor did she have any previous incidences of eye disease or injury.
Lasik was perfect for her. Sandy had the procedure on a Thursday and was back at work on Monday. Even better, she was delighted with the results.
Then there's Lynn who's also been thinking about lasik. She's 32, and her insurance covers the procedure. With her perfect medical history, she has the sick time available and should be able to recover at home for a few days before returning to work. And, fortunately, there are no restrictions on lasik corrections in her type of job.
Trouble is, she just found out that she's pregnant. That immediately rules out lasik for her right now, because pregnancy hormones can cause visual instability. Her optometrist recommends she wait at least a year after completing breastfeeding. Since this is her first child, and she wants other children, she'll try for lasik eye surgery again in about five years.
Now, let's talk about Thomas. He's 45 with vision in only one eye. His astigmatism is such that his lasik surgery would be more extensive than usual. Furthermore, his vision has not been stable lately; he's becoming more farsighted. And, the results of the surgery could diminish rapidly over the next few years, because of his increasing farsightedness.
Right away, he determined that lasik is not an option for him. Besides, the risks are just too great if you are already blind in one eye. His optometrist recommends contact lenses and reading glasses for close work.
Finally, there's Mary. She's nearsighted, with no astigmatism. At forty, she's not pregnant, not into contact sports, and has no restrictions on the procedure due to her visual health. So, she's a good candidate for the lasik procedure, but she's concerned with the relative newness of laser eye surgery.
Her insurance will not cover the procedure, and her financial situation won't cover the cost right now. With her stable vision, she's setting aside lasik for now and looking into contact lenses.
Lasik eye surgery is becoming more popular. It isn't for everyone, but many have gone through with the procedure and are happy with the outcome. Others have considered it, rejected it, and in so doing, have discovered new options for their visual health.
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