I have been wearing glasses for nearsightedness since the age of 16. It was exciting when I got my first pair of adorable, serious pink glasses. I thought I looked quite fancy and smart – I loved that first pair! But, I always thought it would be a temporary thing, and that I would sort of outgrow it, but in fact, my vision got worse over the next 15 years.
Challenges Related to Vision Before LASIK:
I quite liked being a glasses wearer most of the time, picking out frames was fun, but two things really got to me eventually. Firstly, the frames – the nice and cool ones cost so much! And if you need yearly updates to your lenses, it gets quite expensive and is often not covered by medical aid. Secondly, as an adult, I really started enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, walking, and ultimate disc.
Yet, wearing glasses always somehow got in the way. Having good sun protection for your eyes or buying very expensive prescription sunglasses, only to lose them! And wearing sunglasses over a pair of glasses is not fun! I also often felt like my spatial awareness was affected by reflection on my glasses, or when my glasses got wet, steamed up, or would slide down my nose. It made many of my outdoor activities feel unnecessarily awkward and stole so much of the fun from them.
First Impressions after lasik:
In my daily work life is where I first noticed the differences after my LASIK procedure. Being able to act across from someone else without itchy, tired eyes from contact lenses, and to very confidently see, follow and react to someone with clear vision was a game changer for my confidence and flow in my work.
For my work, I often have to have photos taken. I did my first photoshoot since getting LASIK, and I was so relieved to realize I can see the photographer, and follow their instructions easily. Being nearsighted – I always felt a bit confused and unsure in these situations – and now I felt sure and excited to participate in the shoot. As an actor, I can also say it has also boosted my confidence in performing scenes and transforming into different characters.
I often work late hours on my laptop. I’ve noticed that I don’t strain as much to see the screen, and it has also affected my posture – not hunching over or leaning towards the screen all night, and thus no more sore neck and shoulders!
LIFE AFTER LASIK:
Recently, before a hiking trip, I realized I didn’t have any sunglasses. I was so excited to realize I could just walk up to one of those rotating sunglasses display cases in the mall and buy a pair straight away! It is such a joy being able to hike and camp without worrying about how to hygienically clean and store my contact lenses, or walking all day with glasses that slide down and rub your nose.
It’s worth it to just go for a consultation and discuss the options and benefits of a laser vision correction procedure. When I worked out how much I had spent over the last 10-15 years on lenses and frames, it made a lot of sense financially to consider a LASIK procedure, especially if it meant 10 -15 more years of easy living with near-perfect sight. Getting LASIK can be a really freeing experience, especially for people who live active lifestyles or want to be more confident to do outdoor activities.
I think I will miss being a glasses wearer at times with all my cool, fun, frames, but I am more excited for this new chapter in my life! I am ready to buy new cool and fun sunglasses, ready to travel, and ready for new adventures in my work and personal life!
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