In honour of Women’s Day, we explore how clear vision empowers women to live confidently, freely, and on their own terms, and why women are considering vision correction like LASIK.
Women are increasingly taking steps to prioritise their vision, and at Sandton Eye Clinic, we believe they deserve to see their world with clarity and confidence. Drawing from our own data, a higher proportion of LASIK procedures are performed on women. Many of these patients cite lifestyle considerations and the desire for long-term visual freedom as motivating factors.
In this blog, we explore why LASIK resonates with so many women and how personalised eye care, including other options like PRK, ICLs, and presbyopia treatments, can support clear, unaided vision at every stage of life.
A Lifestyle That Deserves Clarity
Today’s woman fills more roles than ever, often balancing career, home life, and personal passions all at once. With so much demanding her time and focus, glasses and contact lenses often become just one more thing to manage.
These small interruptions may seem minor, but over time they add unnecessary friction to an already full day:
- Searching for misplaced glasses before rushing out the door
- Taking extra time for hygienic contact lens care or cleaning glasses
- Interrupting workouts to adjust slipping or foggy glasses
- Cooking while dealing with steamed-up lenses
- Keeping glasses in place while toddlers pull at them
- Having to reach for readers to see the menu or price tag
The idea of waking up with clear vision, no searching, no prep, feels like simplicity regained.
Many of our LASIK patients share that life after surgery brings a renewed sense of freedom and simplicity.
Here are a few experiences shared by women who chose LASIK:
Clear vision completely changed my daily life, especially when it came to my active lifestyle. Training and moving freely became so much easier without worrying about my glasses falling off mid-flip. It gave me a new level of comfort and freedom to do what I love, without limitations.
The first thing I noticed with my vision [after LASIK] was the joy of waking up and seeing clearly, no more looking for glasses! Playing padel has become much more enjoyable as I can see the game and my surroundings much clearer.
I believe my sight is better now than it ever was with glasses. I'm also much less clumsy. Life is so much easier now that I don’t have to worry about finding, cleaning, or wearing glasses
Hormones and Vision: What Every Woman Should Know
Hormonal changes don’t just affect your mood, skin, or metabolism, they can also impact your eyes. Women experience fluctuations in hormone levels during key life stages like pregnancy and breastfeeding, which can influence eye health and vision stability:
Dry Eyes
Hormonal imbalances, especially fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone, can reduce tear production, causing dryness, irritation, or making contact lenses uncomfortable.
Corneal Swelling or Shape Changes
Fluid retention can subtly alter the shape or thickness of your cornea, leading to temporary blurred vision and unstable prescriptions.
Light Sensitivity & Eye Strain
Increased sensitivity to light or screen-induced strain may occur, especially during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Prescription Fluctuations
Because hormones affect your entire body (including the eye’s refractive structures), your glasses or contact lens prescription may shift unpredictably, but the good news is that most of these changes are temporary.
That’s why LASIK is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Ideal timing for surgery is:
- 3+ months after giving birth, with a stable menstrual cycle
- At least 3 months after stopping breastfeeding
- When not planning to fall pregnant within 3 months of surgery
Did you know?
Even if your vision fluctuates temporarily during pregnancy, LASIK results are not reversed. Once hormones stabilise, vision should return to clarity.
Learn more about how motherhood can affect your vision in our dedicated blog post
Not Just LASIK: Other Vision Correction Options
LASIK is only one of several advanced procedures available at Sandton Eye Clinic.
For those who do not qualify for LASIK, due to corneal thickness or high prescriptions, we offer:
- PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): An excellent laser option for thin corneas
- ICLs (Implantable Contact Lenses): A lens inserted into the eye for high prescriptions
- Presbyopia Correction Options for patients aged 40–55 :
- PresbyLASIK : Uses laser to create blended near and distance vision
- Allotex : A breakthrough corneal inlay made from biocompatible donor tissue
- Presbyopic ICLs : Advanced implantable lenses offering distance and near vision
These options are ideal for women frustrated by their reading glasses, particularly in social or professional settings.
The Anti-Ageing Angle: Why Reading Glasses Feel Like a Milestone
For many women, the first sign of presbyopia (age-related difficulty focusing up close) is a deeply emotional moment. Not because the condition is serious, but because reading glasses can feel like a symbol of ageing. We often hear things like: “I can’t believe I’m the one pulling out glasses to read the menu now.” or “Putting on readers during a meeting makes me feel old.”
Fortunately, options like PresbyLASIK, Allotex, and presbyopic ICLs offer an empowering alternative to readers, allowing you to read a menu or presentation without reaching for your specs. For many, it’s one of the most subtle and satisfying anti-ageing treatments available.
Empowered Decisions, Informed Choices
We’re seeing more women in their 20s, 30s and 40s taking charge of their vision. In fact, our IBRA-based data from a recent sample showed that 56.3% of our LASIK patients were women. But LASIK isn’t for everyone and that’s why we prioritise education and thorough evaluations before recommending any procedure.
Free Online Self-Test | A helpful first step before consultation
Comprehensive Refractive Consultation | Includes advanced testing to determine candidacy
Celebrating Women, Supporting Vision
Women’s Day reminds us of the value of self-care, clarity and autonomy. Whether your goal is freedom from contact lenses, glasses, or reading specs, our team is here to guide you through a personalised, evidence-based process. Exploring your options is a step toward putting your needs first, something we wholeheartedly support.
This article is for educational and awareness purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Refractive surgery is a lifestyle choice and may not be suitable for everyone. If you are comfortable wearing spectacles, surgery may not be necessary. A thorough consultation is required to determine your eligibility based on individual eye health and visual needs. Glasses remain a safe and effective option. According to research, the cumulative risk of long-term contact lens wear may exceed that of LASIK.