LASIK Eye Surgery Vs Contact Lenses has been a continuous debate among individuals seeking to better their vision. While many argue in favor of LASIK despite being more costly, the decision as to which is better depends on an individuals lifestyle, preferences, work, and cost.
Cost: Obviously, LASIK eye surgery is more expensive than contact lenses. On average, LASIK eye surgery costs anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000.
On the other hand, contact lenses cost a few hundred dollars for the eye examination, fitting, and lenses. This is far more economical but when you consider the additional costs over one’s lifetime, it quickly adds up and may even surpass the one-time cost of LASIK surgery.
Convenience: LASIK eye surgery guarantees long-lasting solution without the need for aftercare. After the procedure, the eye passes through a healing period of about one month and after that, you don’t have to worry about adjustment and other treatments.
On the contrary, contact lenses do require adjustments if the patient’s prescription changes. Not forgetting the stress involved in taking out contact lenses, cleaning them, and fitting them back.
So if you are looking for a one-time solution to the condition, LASIK offers that convenience.
Lifestyle: As I stated before, one’s occupation and lifestyle are important when making decisions regarding the choice of correction to go for. If you engage in certain activities such as swimming and camping, you will be better off with LASIK surgery unless you don’t have any problem removing your lenses often.
Similarly, if your work involves the use of chemicals or you are in the military or firefighting occupation, using contact lenses may not be the best option for you.
Safety Concerns: Without mincing words, LASIK is safer than contact lenses. And with continuous improvement in technology such as the innovative bladeless flaps, the procedure has become even safer. And when the procedure is handled by a well-trained surgeon, LASIK eye surgery is safer over a patient’s lifetime.
In the same vein, placing contact lenses is generally but long term use comes with significant risks such as neovascularization of the cornea, dry eye, and even more severe conditions such as corneal ulcers which often require a corneal transplant to prevent vision loss.
Conclusion
There is no clear answer as to which is better as the choice depends on the individual. But when you consider factors such as lifestyle and safety concern over one’s lifetime, LASIK eye surgery is way better despite the bigger upfront cost.
