Posted by: Clemson Eye in News

Living 50

The Easley Progress, May 2015
Person of a certain age? Lasik may still be for you.

Are you too old for Lasik or too young for cataracts? The answer involves more than a calculation of age.

Active adults, regardless of age, have many more options today than ever before to maximize visual health and live actively — unencumbered by glasses.

Lasik restores your vision if you suffer from myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (age related near-vision loss) and astigmatism. Although long considered a vision procedure for younger patients, the changing demographics of active adults make it a good alternative at any age.

Blended Vision

For many patients with age-related near-vision loss, a procedure known as “blended” vision can be life-changing. In blended vision, one eye is corrected for distance and one eye corrected for near-vision. The two eyes then work together to provide you with 20-20 vision.

The key to any successful medical procedure is the skill and experience of the medical professionals and the tools at their disposal. A consultation that factors in your lifestyle, your visual goals, overall health and other indicators will help your eye doctor propose the best solution for you.

Bladeless Lasik More Accurate and Safer

Dr. Joseph Parisi, medical director of Clemson Eye, says “We invest in the best technology because it gives our patients the best visual results.” The blade-free method preferred by the eye surgeons at Clemson Eye uses a Femtosecond laser to make the critical first step in the Lasik procedure – a step previously done with a surgical blade. Studies show this bladeless technology is 100 times more accurate than bladed Lasik and significantly safer.

Lasik is a quick procedure, taking usually less than 15 minutes to complete, and most patients are back at work – or play – the next day. Barring an injury or illness, most patients never need prescription glasses again after laser vision correction.

Lasik is an elective procedure that is not covered by most health plans. However, some eye doctors, like those at Clemson Eye, offer a discount if you are covered under one of their contracted health plan providers.

Which Costs More – Lasik or Life Long Eye Wear?

Over time, Lasik patients save significantly on eyewear. Those savings are increased the younger you are when you get the procedure, but a 50-year-old can still save up to $18,000 by ditching prescription glasses, contacts, cleaning solutions and other eyewear supplies.

With current and developing technology, age is — as it should be — just a number.

Click here to view the article on The Easley Progress