Wednesday, June 19, 2013

LASIK vs. Contact Lenses



Many people are unaware that wearing contacts every day may be a bigger risk than having their vision corrected with LASIK.

The fact is, if you have to wear contact lenses, hard contact lenses will give you the best vision, but they are a real nuisance, uncomfortable, prone to slipping, and easily broken. Soft contacts on the other hand are more comfortable, but due to their composition and design it can be more difficult to correct astigmatism.

Possible Complications of Contact Lenses

     With prolonged usage, especially in adverse environmental conditions, contact lenses can lead to:
  • Cornea redness or inflammation 
  • Corneal infections 
  • Corneal abrasions 
  • Corneal ulcers 
  • Corneal swelling 
  • Dry eye
     LASIK eye surgery may eliminate or reduce the need for corrective lenses. As with any type of surgical procedure, there are potential risks of LASIK surgery, including:
  • Dry eye syndrome 
  • Visual symptoms, such as halos, glare, starbursts or double vision 
  • Vision loss
Cost of LASIK
 
     The average one-time cost of LASIK ranges from $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. When these costs are compared to the ongoing expenses of contacts and glasses, LASIK often makes sense financially. Over any 10 year period the average vision impaired person will spend around $12,000 on:
  •  New eyeglass prescriptions 
  • New frames and lenses 
  • Replacement lenses or an endless stream of replacement contacs 
  • Cleaning and sterilizing solutions
Not every person has the right eye conditions to support a LASIK procedure. If you are tired of wearing contacts or glasses and want to explore the LASIK option, the only way to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK is by scheduling a LASIK Consultation. Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com to start on the path!

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