Drawbacks of glasses and contacts
In this section, we look at some of the reasons why a vision correction procedure is a great alternative to wearing glasses and contact lenses.
Glasses
Glasses come with their own set of hassles; they can be expensive and in today’s world of fast-fashion, styles come and go quickly so some people feel as though they need to update their pair to keep up with the latest trends. Prescription eye glasses also get in the way of sunny days, as switching between regular glasses to a UV-protected pair can make for an extra thing to carry.
Not for sport
Beyond the aesthetic value, glasses can be bothersome and get in the way of some physical activity such as sports, yoga, or other fitness activities. If you are required to wear a helmet, even if just for riding a bike to work, or wearing protective gear, glasses do get in the way of that.
Countless hassles
When you lose your glasses, it’s quite the hassle—because then you have to spend money on getting a new pair. Or, if your glasses get scratched, or break, the same outcome applies.
Forecast calls for freedom
In certain temperatures (such as colder, Canadian climates) glasses are affected by temperature changes, particularly when transitioning from the chilly outdoors to a warmer environment, like stepping on a bus. This causes them to fog up, which means you always need to have cleaning wipes handy.
All-around inconvenient
Whether they make putting your make-up on difficult to do, or whether you have to remove them to take a nap, there’s no two ways about it: Glasses can be inconvenient. Picture yourself in a wedding photo wearing your glasses with light reflection causing glare, or gearing up to jump in the pool but you have your glasses on–glasses get in the way.
CONTACT LENSES
Though often considered to be the more liberating alternative to wearing glasses, contact lenses are not without their share of risks and discomfort. That's because several factors, including poor hygiene and unsafe handling or storage can contribute to corneal changes or an aggravation of pre-existing conditions in the eye. As a result, more people than ever are ditching their contact lenses in favour of a safer, low-maintenance alternative: laser vision correction. Although contact lenses appear to be an effective solution to poor vision, it is important to consider the facts when choosing a method of vision correction.
Questionable safety
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States published a study in 2016 focusing on contact lens safety. The study determined that not using lenses as directed can result in some potentially dangerous eye conditions. The most common condition is keratitis, which is an inflammation of the eye. Keratitis poses a greater public health risk than most people realize: In 2010, over 700,000 people who wore contacts reported developing some form of keratitis. Of that number, 280,000 patients were diagnosed with corneal ulcers, an open sore that forms on the cornea, which is directly related to eye inflammation. If left untreated, keratitis can lead to more serious conditions—in some cases, blindness.
Risk of infection
According to a study published in UK medical journal The Lancet, daily contact lens wearers run a one in 100 risk of contracting a bacterial infection. However, only one in every 1,500 cases of laser vision correction results in inflammation. This means that contact lens wearers are 500 times more susceptible to infection than those who have had LASIK. In fact, LASIK is widely considered to be one of the safest elective procedures in medicine, delivering some of the highest levels of patient satisfaction.
They're expensive
A 2013 study that was recently published in the Journal of Ophthalmology determined that the average person spends approximately $75 to $100 a month on their contact lenses and contact lens solution, which can total anywhere from $9,000 to $24,000 over a decade. Laser vision correction, on the other hand, is a worthwhile investment that can free you from having to spend on glasses and contacts.
Plenty of upkeep
Contact lenses require daily maintenance with many steps involved. First, your hands must be washed before manipulating them so as to not transfer dirt and germs; once clean, your contacts must be rinsed off with the recommended solution. Then, they need to be safely placed in their storage case (which should be replaced at least once every three months to avoid contamination). However, the CDC study found that, instead of following these guidelines, a significant number of people have resorted to rinsing or storing their contact lenses in tap water, a sure-fire way of contaminating the contact lens, thereby harming the eye.
Inconvenient
With contact lenses comes an array of other supplies: Fresh lens solution, a contact lens case and, more often than not, a spare pair too. The majority of contact lenses should not, under any circumstance, be worn to bed because wearing them while you sleep—even for brief periods—prevents oxygen from getting to the eye, thus leading to infection.
They're easy to lose—and hard to find
A day at the lake. A concert or festival. A sightseeing trip. These experiences, and many others, are made better with clear vision. But if a contact lens happens to fall out in a crowd or on a water-skiing escapade, it can be frustrating to retrieve it or insert a new one. With LASIK, you get crisp, clear eyesight, and never need to worry about what to do in case one of your contact lenses should fall out at less-than-opportune moment.
Find out for yourself why more and more people are putting away their glasses and contact lenses and turning to laser vision correction instead. Book a free consultation today to find out if you're a candidate for a vision correction procedure.