| Written by Dr Yolandie Coetzee
July marks Global Vision Correction Month—a time to reflect on how far we’ve come in restoring sight and improving lives. Whether through glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery, vision correction has transformed the way millions of people see the world. At Sandton Eye Clinic, we celebrate the power of choice in how we see—and the freedom that comes with it.
When it comes to investing in your future, LASIK might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But if you’ve ever struggled with your sight, you know just how life-changing it is to see clearly. For me, that moment came in primary school. I remember putting on my first pair of glasses and suddenly realising that trees had individual leaves. That moment of clarity was unforgettable. Glasses opened up my world.
Later in high school, I was thrilled to upgrade to contact lenses. They gave me more freedom and confidence, especially when dancing and in social settings. But during university, I started experiencing contact lens intolerance—something many people live with without realising it.
At first, it was subtle: my eyes felt itchy, gritty, and uncomfortable after wearing my lenses for just a few hours. I was often told, “You probably have dry eyes,” but it turns out that wasn’t the full picture. Soft contact lenses tend to soak up your natural tears, leading to a sensation of dryness or irritation—even if your eyes produce enough tears. These symptoms can interfere with everyday activities, making it harder to focus in lectures, drive comfortably, or enjoy a night out.
What once gave me freedom started to feel like a burden. That’s why I felt incredibly lucky to be offered the opportunity to have LASIK at age 22, while rotating through a private ophthalmology practice during my medical studies. Now, more than 20 years later, I still believe it has been one of the best long-term decisions I have ever made.
Honouring the Past: Glasses and Contacts
Glasses have been used for over 700 years and remain a reliable, safe, and effective way to correct refractive errors. The 1970s marked the beginning of a new era with the widespread availability of contact lenses, offering many a sense of visual freedom for the first time. These innovations changed lives and gave people the gift of sight.
Then came LASIK. Approved by the FDA in 1999, it provided a real and lasting alternative for those who wished to experience life without visual aids. Much like the leaps we’ve seen in computers and mobile phones over the past 25 years, LASIK has advanced significantly, becoming safer, more precise, and more customised than ever before. In addition, for those who cannot have LASIK other options in the form of Laser Vision Correction and implantable contact lenses have made clear vision even more accessible.
Refractive Errors: A Treatable Variation
Refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia are not diseases. They are natural anatomical variations in the shape of the eye. Yet, when left uncorrected, they are the leading cause of moderate to severe visual impairment worldwide (Nature, 2024).
Many anatomical or genetic traits we simply live with. But refractive errors are different—they’ve been corrected with visual aids for hundreds of years, and now, they can also be corrected surgically. That makes refractive errors one of the few genetic variations that we can reliably and safely improve with modern medicine.
Read more about our refractive errors blog >
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Refractive Surgery Today
At Sandton Eye Clinic, we believe in personalised care. Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK, and that’s why every patient begins their journey with a comprehensive consultation. Our refractive surgeons offer multiple options tailored to your lifestyle and eye health—from LASIK and PRK to PresbyLASIK, ICL, and Refractive Lens Exchange.
Research shows that LASIK has one of the highest satisfaction and safety profiles of any elective procedure. The lifetime risk of vision-threatening infection is lower for LASIK than for long-term contact lens use. The procedure takes minutes, and recovery is quick. It’s no wonder that LASIK surgeons themselves undergo the procedure four times more often than the general public.
At Sandton Eye Clinic, our lead refractive surgeon, Dr Lourens Coetzee, chose PresbyLASIK for his own vision correction. His trust in the procedure extended to his family as well—his wife, mother, brother, father, and both his parents-in-law have all undergone LASIK or refractive cataract surgery. Dr Coetzee has also helped numerous staff members and their families to experience the freedom of clear vision.
Watch our lead surgeon choose PresbyLASIK for himself >
The Investment of a Lifetime
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If you choose LASIK at 20, you could enjoy up to 20 years of unaided vision before presbyopia sets in. Many contact lens users spend more than R10 a day and still can’t see clearly when they wake up, swim, or shower. With LASIK, the investment works out to less than R7 a day over the same period—a small cost for a life of convenience, confidence, and clarity.
Clear vision also saves time. No more searching for your glasses or cleaning your lenses. If LASIK saves you just 10 minutes a day, that adds up to over 60 hours a year—time you could spend doing what you love.
Effortless vision adds up to a powerful investment in: confidence, simplicity, time, and freedom.
Begin Your Journey
LASIK isn’t about criticising glasses or contact lenses—they are powerful tools that have transformed lives. But some may have a feeling of wanting more. If you’re curious about what life could look like without visual aids, we invite you to take the next step.
Glasses remain a safe option as they do not involve any medical procedure. LASIK is a lifestyle choice for those seeking unaided vision and may not be suitable if you are content with wearing glasses. Research suggests the cumulative risk of contact lenses may exceed that of LASIK. Article Source.