Extended Wear Contacts or LASIK: Is One Clearly Superior to the Other?

    /24-7PressRelease/ - December 13, 2006 - Andessa Schroder, 24, remembers well how she was the first child in her elementary school class who had to wear glasses. "I was 10 years old," she said. "At the time, it was really embarrassing."

Like many people who wear glasses at an early age, Schroder started wearing contact lenses in her teens. However, she didn't wear just any type of contacts - rather, she was fitted with "continuous wear" contacts. These contacts only need to be changed every 30 days.

"At first, it was great. I didn't have to wear glasses, and I didn't have to think much about my contacts, either. I could even sleep in them," she said.

Continuous or extended wear contacts are made of silicone hydrogel - a material which allows oxygen to pass through the lens, thus keeping the eye healthy. They can be worn, day and night, for 30 days, after which they need to be replaced.

After using extended wear contacts for a little over a year, Schroder came to a conclusion: There was no need for even the minimal maintenance associated with the 30-day contacts. She decided to undergo LASIK vision correction.

Schroder was farsighted. This means her cornea is too flat. The cornea is the clear surface of the eye, where light passes through. The eyes convert the light to an image, but in Schroder's case images that were close up were blurred, because the cornea was reflecting the light incorrectly.

LASIK is a procedure where a laser reshapes the cornea. It is a very precise procedure, approved by the FDA, and has been successfully performed on over three million people.

"At first, it was more expensive," said Schroder. Extended wear contacts typically cost about one dollar a day. LASIK prices average at about $1,900 per eye. However, Schroder estimates that she'll save money in the long run, since she now no longer has any contact-related maintenance costs.

There are several factors Schroder weighed before undergoing a LASIK procedure. She liked the convenience of LASIK, but was concerned about the long-term effects. Most important to her, LASIK can't help correct nearsightedness.

"I might have to wear reading glasses when I'm in my fifties or sixties," she said. "Because LASIK can't really correct that. However, contacts can't prevent it either. I figure if it's going to happen it's going to happen - I'd rather have the LASIK and not deal with glasses or contacts for most of my life."

Still, many patients find themselves happy with extended wear contacts. There's no surgery involved, and the prescription can be changed as needed. So, which is better - extended wear contacts or LASIK surgery? Doctors say there is no one right answer, and that it depends on the specific condition of the patient and his or her personal preference.

"Personally, I've never liked wearing glasses, and I certainly wasn't very enthused to touch my eye, even just once a month," said Schroder. "LASIK was the perfect choice for me."

Doctors recommend a personal consultation, where a qualified practitioner can help determine what is best for your specific situation.

For more information on LASIK surgery, please visit The LASIK Directory at www.the-lasik-directory.com.

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