Are YOU a millennial?
Did you know that millennials have the highest rate of nearsightedness of any previous generation?
Recent research reports the current nearsightedness rate is nearly double that of 30 years ago!
Would you think more about LASIK if I told you a study found that LASIK patients younger than age 40 were the MOST satisfied with their LASIK?
If you’ve ever been “thinking about LASIK” but wanted to hear more about research or numbers to prove “why” you should pull the trigger, a new study may help…
The Cornea Research Foundation of America found that contact lens users who chose to have LASIK were more satisfied with their vision a year after the surgery – and even more satisfied after 2 and 3 years.
This is BIG news as this study is the first to directly compare satisfaction rates of contact lens wearers with those who chose LASIK surgery. We finally have a real-world assessment of LASIK and contact lens performance.
According to the Three-Year Longitudinal Survey Comparing Visual Satisfaction with LASIK and Contact Lenses, out of all the currently available vision correction options, LASIK produced the highest levels of satisfaction.
The survey population consisted of 1,800 people from 20 research sites in the US. In the study, there were 3 groups:
- The control group that did NOT have LASIK and continued contact lens use;
- Contact lens users who had LASIK;
- And finally, eyeglass users who had LASIK.
All participants were given a survey at the beginning of the study to establish a baseline and annual follow-up surveys for 3 years.
Survey Findings (some of these are like, duh):
LASIK had a better long-term safety profile:
- Each year, the self-reported rates of eye infections, abrasions, and corneal ulcers were over twice as high in the control group who continued using contact lenses
You may remember our old blog post about having to tailgate for a football game in glasses when we slept in our contacts the night before…who wants to have a corneal ulcer? Why wouldn’t you want to lessen your chances of any kinds of eye infections while getting rid of glasses or contacts?!
As you may have guessed, Contact lens satisfaction declines with time…
- The proportion expressing strong satisfaction with their contact lenses decreased from 63 percent at the start of the study to 54 percent at year 3.
So you know that contact lens solution you hate to pack and those plastic contact lens cases you hate to travel with? You are not alone. And apparently, 3 years of contacts popping out of your eye, causing discomfort or being a nuisance when you travel or leave home started to prove to be an issue for all the patients surveyed!
LASIK satisfaction remained consistently higher with time:
- 88% of former contact lens users and 77% of former glasses wearers reported being strongly satisfied with LASIK at year 3, consistent with the high satisfaction levels at years 1 and 2. As a past LASIK patient, I can say I am just as “highly satisfied” at year 5 than I was at day 2!!!
LASIK significantly reduced night driving difficulties among former content lens wearers:
- They found that the new lasers and patterns for LASIK have gotten rid of more halos and starbursts around lights that former contact lens wearers can kiss goodbye! LASIK significantly improved night vision relative to contact lenses or glasses.
- For the full study info, please Click Here
If you are ready to think again about LASIK, have any questions about the procedure, or just want to find out if you qualify, call our office at
today to schedule a complimentary LASIK evaluation today and ask us about Back to School Specials!
Get it done before summer is over and get your vision crystal clear before the fall and Holiday Season!
