The obvious pro of Lasik surgery is the fact that you can dramatically improve your vision. In fact, many people that undergo the surgery enjoy 20/20 vision following the procedure. Anyone that wears glasses understands how debilitating it is to be dependent upon glasses. Therefore, the idea of throwing them away for good is a very exciting and tempting thought. No more worrying about losing them while on amusement park rides. No more fogging up when stepping outdoors from an air conditioned room. And, no more wiping the water away after walking through a rainstorm
Taking Chances
One of the cons of Lasik surgery, however, is the fact that you are not guaranteed perfect results. In fact, you may still need to wear glasses in certain situations in order to achieve the level of vision you desire. This is particularly true if part of your vision loss is due to old age because Lasik surgery is currently unable to correct vision problems resulting from aging.
When you undergo the surgery, you also take the risk of damaging your eyes further. Since the process involves actually cutting away at your cornea, it is possible to undercorrect or to overcorrect your vision. In addition, complications can occur that can lead to infection or other problems. Ultimately, there is a chance of actually making your vision worse than it was to begin with.
Coughing Up the Cash
Another drawback to Lasik is the upfront cost. In order to treat both eyes, it can cost thousands of dollars. While more insurance policies are starting to pick up some of the costs, this is not true of all policies. Therefore, the upfront cost of undergoing Lasik surgery can be beyond the budgets of many people.
Saving Money Down the Road
Although it is expensive, f you can afford the upfront costs, you can actually save money down the road. After all, purchasing new glasses and frames every couple of years can become quite expensive. If your surgery is a success and you no longer need glasses, you will actually save money in the long run.
Understanding the Long Term Results
Since Lasik is still a relatively new procedure, the possible long term effects are still left to be fully understood. Therefore, if you choose to undergo Lasik now, you are taking a risk regarding what will happen to your eyes down the road. For some people, the cornea naturally diminishes as they grow older. For a person that has undergone Lasik surgery and had his or her cornea reshaped, this can cause vision problems down the road. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing who will likely experience these changes as they grow older.
In the end, the decision whether or not to undergo Lasik surgery is entirely a personal one. Just be sure to discuss each of the pros and cons with your doctor before undergoing the procedure in order to be absolutely sure it is the right one for you.
