The benefits of laser eye surgery for parents

This is a collaborative post.

I started wearing glasses in my late teens. At the time, I was a gymnast competing in national and international competitions.

As my eyesight got worse, I had to wear contact lenses so that my vision wasn’t affected when I trained and competed. And although they were much better than glasses, they still didn’t quite do what I needed them to.

I managed to lose one contact lens during the warm-up for the World Championships in Poland, which resulted in the Japanese team getting down on their hands and knees to do a fingertip search for it! It wasn’t found, and I was only able to see properly out of one eye, so had to compete that way.

That’s when I started to research laser eye surgery.

My experience of laser eye surgery

Having the surgery is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The feeling of having 20/20 vision again without having to wear glasses or contact lenses was amazing.

It meant I was able to go swimming and fully enjoy the experience, and I saved money because I didn’t have to pay for lenses and glasses. I enjoyed over 20 years of not needing them, which makes the surgery extremely cost-effective.

But the biggest benefits for me became clear when I became a parent.

The benefits of laser eye surgery for parents

I didn’t have to worry about finding my glasses in the middle of the night when the kids woke up when they were babies, or worrying about my glasses steaming up or getting covered in rain and not having a hand free to clean them.

Swimming with the kids was a much more enjoyable experience, too, as I didn’t have to worry about them splashing me in the face or not being able to see them if I didn’t wear lenses.

If I were thinking about having laser eye surgery today, there are a few things I’d want to consider.

Firstly, I’d want to make sure the surgeons and staff were experts and a safe pair of hands to trust with my vision. A centre of excellence would be my first choice, even if that meant travelling to get the right level of care.

Secondly, I’d want to be sure that the aftercare was of a high standard. I experienced blurred vision and dry eyes after the surgery. Being able to access the right advice quickly meant I was reassured it wasn’t anything to worry about, and the symptoms disappeared when I followed the advice I was given.

Finally, I’d want to have clear pricing information, so I knew the cost and exactly what I was paying for. If I have to hunt about for a price or speak to someone first to find out the cost, that puts me off.

Where can you have laser eye surgery?

There are many different places you can have laser surgey from smaller High Street providers to world-leading specialists like St Paul’s Laser Vision, who are a centre of excellence in this type of procedure and work in partnership with the NHS.

I’d also recommend reading reviews from previous customers, as that’s a great way to assess the quality of the service and whether it’s going to meet your needs.

FAQs About laser eye surgery

How risky is laser eye surgery?

Complications are rare in laser eye surgery, and it is one of the safest operations. There are some common side effects, like dry eyes and temporary visual problems, such as glare, particularly at night. With good aftercare, these problems usually disappear after a few days or weeks.

What types of laser eye surgery are there?

There are two common types of laser eye surgery, LASIK and LASEK. LASIK involves a flap being created and a second laser is used to reshape the corneal tissue. The LASIK flap is then laid back into its original position. Lasek involves the removal of the thin cornea layer and the laser reshaping the cornea directly on the surface. The skin layer then regrows in about a week.

Is laser eye surgery painful?

Your eye is numbed with eye drops before the procedure, so you should not feel any pain during it. Most people say they feel some pressure on the eye, which can be a strange sensation. This will last only for a few seconds.