Laser Vision Correction vs. Contact Lenses

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

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

Laservision correction eye surgery may eliminate or reduce the need for corrective lenses. As with any type of surgical procedure, there are potential risks of laser vision correction surgery, including:

• Dry eye syndrome
•  Visual symptoms, such as halos, glare, starbursts or double vision 
• Vision loss

Cost of Laser Vision Correction

The average one-time cost of laser vision correction ranges from $1,600 per eye for non-customized laser vision correction to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. When these costs are compared to the ongoing expenses of contacts and glasses, laser vision correction 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 contacts 
• Cleaning and sterilizing solutions

Not every person has the right eye conditions to support a laser vision correction procedure. If you are tired of wearing contacts or glasses and want to explore the laser vision correction option, the only way to determine if you are a good candidate for laser vision correction is by scheduling a laser vision correction Consultation. Contact Pacific Eye Specialists in San Fransisco today at 415-921-7555 or pacificeyespecialists.com to start on the path!