Ditch the LASIK Excuses and Kiss Glasses Goodbye

If you wear glasses or contacts, you likely have thought about LASIK surgery at one point or another. After all, most people don’t want to be restricted in their everyday activities by the inconvenience and hassle of glasses or contacts. But even though the idea of having clear sight is very alluring, you’ve probably still wondered, “Should I get LASIK?” It’s one of those procedures that sounds ideal, but is easy to talk yourself out of. One excuse can turn into another two or three, and before you know it, a couple years have passed and you’re still relying on glasses to help you see.

It’s time to get the truth so you can take control of your vision! Let’s bust through some common misconceptions about LASIK, so you can better understand the full scope of the procedure and how much you may stand to gain by seeing it through.

“I’m waiting for LASIK to get safer.”

One of the biggest concerns around vision correction surgeries of any type is safety – and for good reason. Your eyes are immensely important to you, and you want to be sure you’re not putting your sight at risk. If you’ve ever hemmed and hawed about making a LASIK consultation because you can’t get thoughts like, “is LASIK eye surgery painful?” and “how safe is LASIK?” out of your head, let us reassure you.

First of all, the discomfort of LASIK is usually very minimal and short-lived. Second of all, the safety of LASIK has been proven time and again. In fact, this procedure has been in use for about 20 years and used to correct the vision of more than 16 million patients with over 96 percent patient satisfaction. In other words, LASIK has a stellar safety record. If procedural risks are a key concern of yours, you can be at peace knowing that LASIK is not only safe, but has even been shown to be safer in the long run than contacts can be (in terms of infections).

“I can’t take the time off from work.”

Worried about taking sick days in order to recover from LASIK? You shouldn’t need to! Actually, most patients can return to work the very next day after their surgery. If your work might be impaired by slightly blurry vision that sometimes occurs the first day after surgery, you can work around this. Plan your appointment for a Friday afternoon or prior to a holiday so you can have a few extra days to bounce back before heading to your job. Either way, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by how quickly healing occurs after LASIK.

“I can’t get LASIK because I have astigmatism.”

This myth has been perpetuated so much that it’s become a common belief. If you have astigmatism, you might have written off the procedure and said, “Why get LASIK if it won’t work for my situation?” But the reality is that LASIK is primarily most effective when being used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. It’s true that a doctor may recommend you pursue PRK surgery or another treatment route, depending on the severity of your astigmatism. But more than likely, LASIK might be the very procedure you need to fix your astigmatism.

“I don’t think I can afford LASIK.”

Mistaken beliefs about LASIK surgery pricing is often what ends up keeping people away from better sight. Before you count out LASIK as too expensive, do some research and schedule a consultation. It’s not only feasible for you to afford LASIK, but it might even be difficult for you to pass it up once you understand the possibilities. Many centers regularly offer specials and generous financing options to fit any financial situation. You can ask a center to review your insurance to see if any of the procedure may be covered, and then ask them to work with you to find a payment approach that works for you and your budget. Don’t let perceived costs stand in the way of great vision!

So maybe you’ve been sitting on the fence, thinking: “Should I get laser eye surgery?” If this sounds familiar, what’s holding back? Don’t let misconceptions and misinformation lead you away from the goals and lifestyle you want. It’s time to schedule a consultation today, and enjoy better sight tomorrow.