If you suffer from poor vision, you likely wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. As eyeglasses are by far the most popular treatment in the world for refractive errors, this should come as no surprise. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Eye Health Statistics at a Glance report, which was updated in 2009, more than 150 million Americans – half of the population – use glasses to correct vision that is impaired due to myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism. Easy to use, safe, and effective, eyeglasses are an excellent treatment option for patients with poor vision.

There are alternative treatment options for individuals who suffer from vision impairment. LASIK eye surgery is a permanent vision correction procedure available to men and women who have stable refractive errors. Although it offers permanent results, LASIK surgery is far less popular than eyeglasses for correcting poor vision because many patients fear the procedure or are weary of its costs.

Eyeglasses are less expensive initially, but over time they can actually prove to be more expensive. Many patients also find the LASIK procedure to be quick and painless. In fact, laser vision correction offers tremendous benefits and certainly merits consideration if you would like to see the world clearly again. At our Rapid City LASIK practice, we offer laser vision correction to patients from Williston, ND and surrounding areas.

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses are the safest treatment available for refractive errors. Contact lenses can increase wearers’ risk of acquiring eye infections, while LASIK surgery poses its own risk of surgical complications. Glasses provide immediate results, are extremely unlikely to harm patients’ health, and are easy to use. It’s obvious to see why so many people elect to rely upon eyeglasses for vision correction rather than surgical treatment.

Many men and women do seek alternative treatment options however, due to the limitations of eyeglasses and corrective lenses. Whatever the reason may be – some our Rapid City laser eye surgery patients do not like the way they look when wearing glasses, others get frustrated when they misplace their glasses and can’t find them – many individuals find LASIK surgery a more appealing solution as it permanently treats vision impairment and can completely eliminate a patient’s need for glasses.

Laser Vision Correction

Laser vision correction treatments such as LASIK, PRK, LASEK, and custom LASIK are surgical procedures that are designed to reshape the cornea and alter the reflection of light onto the retina. When the cornea is too wide, narrow, or irregularly shaped, light is unable to reflect directly off of the retina. This can result in blurred vision or an inability to properly focus on objects near or far. During LASIK, the cornea is reshaped with a laser to produce clear vision in patients. Because the cause of the condition is treated – the misshapen corneal tissue – rather than just the symptoms, results are permanent and can have a tremendous impact on a person’s quality of life.

Cost

It is estimated that the corrective eyewear industry is a $15 billion a year business. In general, LASIK prices are about $800 per eye. Depending on the type of glasses you purchase and how often you buy new glasses, the cost associated with a lifetime of use can easily exceed the one-time cost of LASIK surgery. If you are hesitant to undergo LASIK surgery because of cost, the treatment typically pays for itself in a relatively short amount of time.

Contact Black Hills Regional Eye Institute

If you are interested in undergoing LASIK, contact our practice to schedule a consultation. We treat patients from Williston, ND and surrounding areas. The pros and cons of refractive surgery can be explained to you in detail so that you can make a decision regarding your health knowing all of the facts.