Vision Correction

Whether less than perfect vision is present from birth, due to accident or illness, or a symptom of aging, most people will need some sort of vision correction in their lifetimes. Some will prefer the simplicity of glasses; some will opt to wear contact lenses; and, an increasing number of eye patients will elect to have Lasik surgery to bring their world back into focus.

Glasses

Some individuals start wearing glasses almost from the time they are born. Thanks to new medical technologies, ophthalmologists can now determine if a youngster’s eyes need correction, even before they can talk. Some people manage to maintain good vision until they are at least middle age. However, regardless of the person, the first line of defense against distorted or blurred vision is glasses.

The lenses are specifically crafted to each individual patient. They redirect the light to reach the retina properly, so the brain registers perfect vision. Thus, vision challenges such as astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness is corrected when the glasses are in place.

Contacts

A lot of people do not like to wear glasses. For some it is simply a matter of vanity. They feel better about themselves. For others, it is a matter of convenience. They are tired of the lenses fogging up, having to look through raindrops, or needing prescription sunglasses. Besides, they don’t have to worry about contacts sliding down their noses.

But, contacts are not the best solution for vision correction for some people. The lenses are delicate. They are easily lost, torn, or scratched. Some people are more susceptible to infections or dry eye from the contacts. Others have a tendency to forget the contacts are in their eyes, and fall asleep before taking them out of their eyes.

Lasik Eye Surgery

In the past, the only solution to vision correction was glasses or contacts. Thanks to modern medical technology, people who have less than perfect vision may have one more option. In the hopes of obtaining perfect vision, they are choosing to have Lasik eye surgery.

The majority of vision problems are refractory errors. The problem is due to a misshapen cornea that misdirects the light that reaches the retina. So, to correct blurry or distorted sight, the ophthalmologist uses a laser to make an incision in the cornea. Then, he/she carefully pulls back a flap and reshapes the cornea. Then, it is put back in place.

In most cases, the patient will notice an improvement in vision within the first 48 hours after the procedure. Although they will have to carefully follow post-operative instruction to prevent infection and allow the eye to heal, they will be able to put their glasses down, or at least have a reduced prescription.

Making the Vision Correction Choice

You only have one set of eyes. Making the vision correction choice that is right for you is not a decision to take lightly. Most people start out with glasses, simply because they are not as expensive, and there are little to no side effects. For some, it takes a little time to get used to the refractory change, and it might cause headaches. However, this symptom should pass, if the prescription is correct. In fact, not wearing corrective lenses can also result in headaches, once the eyes get used to the change.

Contacts are an iffier proposition. Not everyone can wear lenses directly on the iris. They will have a tendency to have drier eyes. If the lenses or fingers are not clean, when they touch the eyes, it can result in an infection. In either case, some individuals find out they cannot wear contacts, after they have gone to the expense of purchasing them.

Naturally, Lasik eye surgery is the riskiest proposition. A doctor is going to manipulate the cornea with a laser. For the majority of patients, the procedure is a resounding success. However, there are others that have less than satisfying results. A dream of perfect vision turns into a nightmare. Instead of vision correction, their sight is further impaired to the point they can no longer drive or hold down their current job. Although this is a worst case scenario, both the benefits and the potential risks should be considered before undergoing Lasik.

So, when considering vision correction, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons of each option. Talk to your health care provider. Weigh the benefits against the risks. You are the only one that can decide what is best for you. You only have one set of eyes; and, they need to last you a lifetime.