Many people are afflicted with naturally poor eyesight, but few people have to get by without good vision due to the number of methods for eyesight improvement. One of the most common types includes glasses, which can be comfortably worn by nearly anyone. Some people prefer contact lenses, as long as they are committed to learning how to put them in their eyes, take them out, and care for them when they are not wearing them. Finally, some people opt for laser eye surgery in order to permanently correct their vision, though not everyone is able to use this method.
Glasses are a popular yet basic way to correct vision, as they tend to come without risks, and can be taken on and off easily. This is usually the most appropriate method of eyesight improvement for both young and old patients, as there is no special technique or danger involved in putting them on and taking them off the face. There are glasses available for those who are nearsighted or farsighted, and there are also reading glasses, which many people use as they age. The frames may be plastic or metal wire, and the lenses range from plastic to glass, allowing patients a few choices when it comes to correcting their vision.
Some people do not like how they look in glasses, so they choose to use contacts instead. It is also difficult to perform some hobbies and jobs with glasses on, as they may fall off when the patient is very active or underwater. Of course, contacts are generally more difficult to use than glasses, as they require patients to wash their hands before handling them, wash and soak them overnight in solution, and then display patience when putting them in the eye. Additionally, contacts are not usually the best method of eyesight improvement for young children, who often do not have the hand-eye coordination or patience to wear the lenses.
There are people who do not want to wear glasses since their lifestyle does not make this method of eyesight improvement ideal, but they also do not have the time or patience to wear contacts. Such patients might choose laser eye surgery, which provides permanent eyesight improvement. The downsides of this method include the fact that insurance companies do not usually pay for this type of surgery since it is not medically necessary. In addition, there are risks to this surgery, as some people end up with dry eyes or a habit of seeing halos at night, requiring revision surgery. Finally, some people are not eligible for this type of eyesight improvement, as those with very bad vision, thin corneas, or dry eyes typically have to seek alternative methods.