Contact lenses can be a nice change from wearing glasses, but they’re not exactly low maintenance. With frequent check-ups, constantly replacing your lenses, and the bind of using solutions to maintain cleaning routines with certain lenses, the costs can soon add up. Not to mention, learning how to put them in is a fiddly process.
That’s why laser eye surgery is becoming more popular than ever. Offering great vision with no need for distance glasses or the constant maintenance of contact lenses, patients are able to see well with no hassle. I’ve had laser eye surgery myself, and I’m a dispensing optician, so I was very well versed in all things eye-related!
Since I can speak first-hand on the subject – both personally and professionally, I thought I’d share why I think laser eye surgery is so good.
What is laser eye surgery?
For anyone who doesn’t know the ins and outs of laser eye surgery, I thought I’d do a quick explainer. It’s basically a surgery completed with the help of lasers (for precision) that corrects your spectacle prescription. Once healed, your vision will be very good – eliminating the need to wear glasses or contact lenses all the time.
Who can benefit from laser eye surgery?
Anyone who needs to wear glasses or contact lenses all the time can benefit from laser eye surgery. So if that’s you, it’s something to look into. I was short sighted before I had my surgery and it mean that if I woke up in the middle of the night, I couldn’t see a thing – even to walk to the bathroom.
This was annoying but I was used to it. I did find it extra tough when I had my first child as she woke up frequently and I was constantly scrambling around for my glasses so I could see to her needs. I then went on to have laser eye surgery before my next two children, and found the ability to just wake up and see my surroundings pretty life-changing. Even being able to wake up and see my baby in the crib next to me was a massive boon, when previously I’d have to locate my specs first.
There are some people who aren’t suitable for this surgery for a number of reasons, but most people who wear glasses or contant lenses full time will be an eligible candidate.
Is laser eye surgery worth it?
Personally, I think laser eye surgery is very worth it. I was spending around £1000 per year on contact lenses and glasses (and I got discount from working at an opticians!) so even after paying for surgery, I saved money. I had my surgery over 13 years ago now, meaning I’ve saved at least £13,000 over the years – if not, more!
Even if you don’t regularly update your specs and just fork out for contact lenses, it’s likely it’s costing you several hundred pounds per year, just to see your surroundings. Laser eye surgery is just the cost of the surgery and you’re done for a long time. I might need reading glasses in the next decade or so, but there are laser options that deal with that too, so some people never need glasses again!
How fast is the recovery for laser eye surgery?
Interestingly enough, laser eye surgery has very low downtime. I had my surgery late afternoon, and was in and out within around a couple of hours. The surgery itself took seconds each eye, then I was checked, given some goggles and sent home. As I’d had local anaesthesia on my eyes, my lids were very droopy for a few hours so I went for a lie down.
After I’ve been to bed for the night, I woke up with perfect vision. Some people experience a tiny bit of blurring the next day, but I didn’t. Aftercare was minimal, I just couldn’t wear make up for 2 weeks, then I had a check up at the two-week mark and was discharged. I’ve been able to see perfectly ever since!
In my opinion, if you’re a full-time glasses or contacts-wearer, you would benefit from speaking to an expert about laser eye surgery to see if it’s a good fit for you.