Eyeglasses: Facing Extinction?

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By Sophia Kaisermann

The human eye. Our key to seeing the world. Sight is the most important of the five senses. However, approximately 1.3 billion people in the world have some vision problem. For centuries, eyeglasses have been used to help people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and other eye problems see the right way. Thousands of people around the globe wear glasses or use contact lenses to try to correct their vision. But the old ways serve us no longer. To fix their eye problems, people have been doing Laser Eye Surgery.

The surgery, most commonly known as LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis), uses lasers to reshape the inner cornea. The cornea is the clear part of the eye in front of the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. It bends the light waves so that one can see. If there is something wrong with the cornea, you might not be able to see properly. Right before the surgery, the doctor apply numbing drops to the patient`s eyes and use a special instrument to open their eyelids. The surgeon will then use a small blade or laser to cut a part from the front of the patient`s eye so that he or she may access the part of the cornea that is misshapen. Using a laser, the surgeon will reshape the patient`s cornea.

The procedure is very fast, usually done in thirty minutes or less. Only people of above 18 (in some places 21) years of age may have the surgery. Patients with some health and vision conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, collagen vascular disease, and dry eyes are not allowed to undergo the surgery. As of 2016, 30 million people around the world have been cured from their eye condition after the surgery, and around 8 out of 10 patients don`t need to wear glasses anymore.

I believe that this surgery will cause the eyeglasses to near extinction. With technology constantly evolving and improving, it is very likely that this procedure will become faster and will be effective in more than just 80% of patients. It will probably also be more common and cheaper. Currently, the surgery cost can range from $1,000 to more than $3,000 per eye depending on surgeon skill level, laser technology, and required vision correction. However, with new technology, price will most likely drop and it will become more common. With all these pros, the advantages of LASIK are clear to see.

External links:


https://medlineplus.gov/lasereyesurgery

https://www.tlcvision.com/lasik-candidate/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/side-effects

https://www.optegra.com/eye-health-blog/facts-about-laser-eye-surgery/

https://www.vsp.com/lasik-eye-surgery-cost

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