LASIK: Do It For Yourself

Health-care can be divided into three groups.  Thing you have to do like go to the emergency room when something bad happens, things you should do, like have a yearly physical, and the things you elect to do, like having LASIK vision correction.  There has been much said in the recent health-care debate and newly passed legislation about the first two categories, and despite my strong beliefs in this area, I want to concentrate on the last category, those things that you can have if you want them.

LASIK in this sense is in the same realm as plastic surgery.  No one really needs cosmetic facial surgery, but many people have this to improve their self esteem.  Likewise, no one really needs LASIK to improve their vision, but many have this also as a way to improve their vision and their self esteem.  There is an important difference between these two elective procedures that is obvious.  LASIK does not change how you LOOK, it changes how you FUNCTION.  And while you do not really need to make another choice about cosmetic surgery, in the case of LASIK the only alternative is glasses or contacts or blurry vision.

When you travel, fly on business or vacation, with contacts you must remember to bring solutions, cleaners, cases, etc.  There is the little issue of airport security screening and these things being examined in your carry on luggage.  There is also the issue of dry eyes in flight, carrying back up glasses in case you become uncomfortable in your contacts, or one pops out when you least expect it.  There is the issue of sunglasses, a nonprescription stylish pair to wear with your contacts, and maybe another pair with prescription.   Pretty soon it is clear that you are shuttling an entire vision care pouch, just to get away for a long weekend.  So much for spontaneity.

So many people tell us that the biggest benefit of LASIK for them has been the freedom aspect and that they "never did something so nice for themselves."  They never realized how much all the vision care stuff was cluttering up their lives.  And besides the simplified lifestyle, they also got something else that they did not expect -- improved self esteem.  Suddenly, they were not broken any more and like the plastic surgery patient, felt better about themselves and their bodies.

We have seen this improved self esteem improve other facets in their lives.  Suddenly they were losing weight, dressing better, smiling more.  I am not saying that LASIK changes everyone's life into a bed of roses, but it is amazing how the happiness factor has increased for so many people.  There is a feeling of satisfaction that they made the decision to do something positive, had a positive experience, and now have tangible improvement over where they were before their LASIK.

Yes, there is some hassle in actually having LASIK.  There is the time for the exams and the procedure.  There is the cost, the risks, the anxiety, and rarely the bad experience.  For most people these amount to a few hours of time and minimal discomfort balanced against a lifetime of time and discomfort savings.  Think about the struggle that exists for a few minutes every day with putting in contacts, re-wetting them, sometimes getting something under them.  How about looking for glasses, cleaning them, replacing them.  In the long run there is a lot of time and money tied up in our vision care regardless of the path taken.

If you are wiling to buy a new dress, a new pair of shoes, a new car, or a new television, then you should consider that doing something more personal for yourself and "buying" an improved set of eyes may be the best investment that you ever made.