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For many young people, the health of their eyes is something they take for granted. For others, it’s a daily routine to remember their glasses or put in their contacts, or be forced to squint and blink all day. But whether they have perfect vision or not, many millennials simply aren’t up to speed on what their options are for LASIK and other eye care procedures.
That’s in part because their vision hasn’t started to deteriorate as it may when they get older, and also because they aren’t thinking about the long term costs of glasses or contacts. That’s not a knock on millennials. Deciding to budget for LASIK when you aren’t making a ton of money looks like a large short-term cost, but taking care of your vision now is less expensive in the long run.
Millennials also may have preconceived notions about who is eligible for LASIK. Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you aren’t a good candidate for LASIK. In fact, there’s plenty of research that shows LASIK to be very effective for patients under 25, if not more so than for older patients. Many younger people might think that their vision isn’t that bad, so why spend the money on LASIK? But doesn’t it make more sense to fix your vision early on, and enjoy it for the rest of your life?
It also makes sense from a logical point of view that younger patients would have more to gain from LASIK. They tend to be on the go and involved in more physical and outdoor activities than seniors and older adults. Millennials are also more likely to wear contacts, and to sleep in their contacts.
So what happens during LASIK surgery? Well, the procedure itself generally takes less than 10 minutes. The femtosecond laser will make a flap in the cornea, which will then be pulled back. The excimer laser then reshapes the cornea by removing or ablating tissue under the flap. It’s a very safe procedure with a low risk for complications.
If this has your attention, you might be wondering how you know if you’re a good candidate for LASIK? LASIK can help alleviate symptoms of myopia, hyperopia, and blurred vision caused by astigmatism. Unfortunately, there are certain conditions that can mean you aren’t a good candidate for LASIK. These include dry eyes, large pupils, or thin corneas; glaucoma, herpes of the eye or eye inflammation; and diabetes or other diseases that impede healing or require the use of corticosteroids. We should also note that when we talk about “young people,” that term includes adults 18 and older.
Luckily, even if you aren’t a good candidate for LASIK, there may be other options available to you. For instance, people whose corneas are too thin or flat for LASIK may be eligible for LASEK surgery.
How will you know for sure which procedure is right for you? You’ll have to schedule a consultation with your eye doctor to know for certain. So if you want to improve your vision and lose the contacts or glasses, then call us today and let’s get started.
