LASIK Versus Contact Lenses

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 06, 2011 (Press-News.org) Many treatments are available to correct vision, and it is important that you choose a solution best suited for your specific needs and expectations. LASIK vision correction and contact lenses are both treatments letting you live free from glasses, but choosing between the two should involve your consideration of the risks and your candidacy for each treatment. You should also think about how each will affect your day-to-day life.

Risks Associated with LASIK Surgery and Contact Lenses

You may assume LASIK is the more dangerous treatment when compared to contacts. There is always risk inherent in surgery, but contact lenses are not free of risk either. The Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health and Science University found that 1 in 2000 people had some vision loss from daily contact use over 30 years. This vision loss resulted from infection, most likely caused by improper handling or extended use of daily contacts. In reviewing a study of 16,000 soldiers who had LASIK eye surgery, the Institute found that 1 in 1,250 had some vision loss after the surgery.

You can minimize the risk of both treatments. For LASIK eye surgery, risk can be decreased by choosing an experienced doctor who uses advanced technology. Reduce LASIK risks by consulting with your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for the eye surgery. For contact lens safety, avoid infection by adhering to wear, cleaning and disinfecting instructions. Do not use daily wear lenses overnight.

Candidacy for LASIK or Contact Lenses

Another element to consider in choosing between LASIK surgery and contact lenses is your candidacy. Certain situations will disqualify you as being a candidate for LASIK surgery. For instance, you have to be at least 18 years old to have LASIK, you must have had stable vision for 1-2 years prior to surgery, and no scarring can be present on your cornea.

Most everyone is a candidate for contact lenses, including children under 18. The most important thing to consider about using contact lenses is whether you are committed to the proper care and handling of the lenses. To avoid infection that could result in vision loss, you must be willing to disinfect and clean your contacts correctly.

Expectations of Life after LASIK, Contact Lenses

You should consider your expectations for both treatments. Think about how you want your vision correction to impact your lifestyle.

Remember that LASIK surgery:
- Does not always eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses in certain situations. For example, you may still benefit from using reading glasses or glasses while driving at night
- Lets you wake up in the morning and not have to search for glasses or insert contacts before starting your day

Consider that with contact lenses:
- You must be committed to appropriate daily care and handling
- Although the cost of a box of contacts is less than LASIK, this cost is ongoing for the duration of use

You should not make a decision about vision correction before scheduling a consultation with a knowledgeable and experienced doctor. If you live in San Francisco, Bay Area or San Jose, California, please visit the website of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to learn more about LASIK surgery, contact lenses and other treatment options.

Website: http://www.lasikdocs.com