Is LASIK Worth It for Athletes? Here’s What You Need to Know
Is LASIK Worth It for Athletes? Here’s What You Need to Know
Are you an athlete? Whether you compete in a soccer league, shoot hoops after work, or windsurf on the weekend, you should be able to focus on your game, not your glasses.
Clear vision is essential when you are trying to score a goal or a basket or gliding through waves. However, traditional eyewear can just get in your way.
That’s why many athletes have turned to LASIK for greater visual freedom. Keep reading to learn more about LASIK and how it may be worth it for you if you’re an athlete!
What Are the Advantages of LASIK for Athletes?
Before LASIK, your choices were to either deal with the inconvenience of eyewear during sports or sacrifice your clear vision. Now, thanks to LASIK, you can achieve visual freedom without the hassle of glasses or contacts.
Anyone who wears glasses and has tried to partake in physical exercise knows how annoying they can be. As you sweat, they can easily slip.
You may find yourself having to readjust them often. They can also be damaged through contact with a ball or another person or even simply through a fall.
These risks can result in you giving the sport less than your all. Contacts come with their own drawbacks.
They can often dry out, leading to discomfort. If your activity of choice takes place on the water, you have to remove them, as ocean, pool, or lake water can be harmful to them, and you.
Dirt, sand, and other debris common to sports can also damage your contacts. LASIK takes the hassle out of playing sports.
Because it permanently corrects your refractive error causing nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, most patients no longer have to worry about their visual needs. You also no longer need to purchase expensive prescription sunglasses or goggles.
Whether you play to win or just for fun, LASIK will make you love your favorite sports even more.
Who Is a Good Candidate for LASIK?
To get LASIK, you must be at least eighteen years old. In order for the procedure to be effective, your prescription should be stable for at least a couple years.
For LASIK to work for you, your prescription must be within certain limits. Patients with extremely high prescriptions may not be good candidates for LASIK.
You should have good eye health and overall health. If you have a condition like diabetes or an autoimmune disorder, LASIK may not be recommended for you, as these conditions can affect healing.
Another important candidacy factor is the thickness of your cornea. During LASIK, the LASIK surgeon creates a small flap on the surface of your cornea. If your corneas are too thin, this is not possible.
Instead, you may be a good fit for another vision correction procedure, like PRK. When considering LASIK, you should have realistic expectations about what your results may look like.
Most people who undergo LASIK will achieve 20/20 vision, but some may still need glasses or contacts in certain situations.
What Is Recovery from LASIK Like?
The recovery time for LASIK is typically brief, but it will be necessary for you to take a break from any contact sports so that your eyes can heal properly. If you return to strenuous activity too soon, you risk dislodging the corneal flap.
Your eye doctor may give you a protective shield to wear over your eyes at night. You should also avoid wearing make-up around your eyes for at least a week.
It’s also important that you avoid water activities like swimming and hot tubs for a month. Most people are able to see clearly immediately after the LASIK procedure, but your vision may be blurry.
Over the next several weeks, your vision will continue to improve.
Ready to join other athletes who have had LASIK? Schedule your LASIK consultation at Ginsberg Eye in Naples, FL, today!
