Professions Suited For Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery can no doubt benefit anyone, depending on their unique needs and lifestyle. Individuals in some professions, however, stand to benefit in specific ways related to their jobs.

Here are just a few:

• Athletes: Precise vision is a critical element of any sport, whether it’s golf, football, tennis, or hockey. Glasses can be cumbersome, while a contact lens slipping out of place can have disastrous consequences in the midst of a game or match. In addition, the combination of early morning practices and late-night flights can be problematic for contact lens wearers, as overuse can lead to a host of issues. Even recreational athletes will see the benefits of laser eye surgery, from being able to see clearly while swimming, to jogging without having to constantly readjust glasses to stay in place.
• Drivers and pilots: A 2009 study by the US Navy revealed that laser eye surgery using a VISX Advanced CustomVue laser actually increased night driving performance, both in terms of road hazard detection and road hazard identification . From taxi to lorry drivers, to others who find themselves frequently behind the wheel after dark, laser eye surgery can help make better and safer drivers. In addition, for glasses wearers, laser eye surgery can eliminate the need to clumsily switch between glasses and prescription sunglasses as the light changes, so you can keep your focus on the road. The same logic extends to pilots, who have a different set of hazards to manoeuvre about, but need sharp vision from day to night nonetheless.
• Military and police: Military and law enforcement personnel can be disadvantaged and appear more vulnerable in glasses. In addition, for those posted abroad, particularly in less desirable and developed locations, keeping up the necessary level of hygiene to wear contact lenses can be difficult. With perfect eyesight, these individuals at home and abroad can focus on the issues and conflicts at hand, without having to worry about their vision. Precision in vision is also critical, whether wielding a gun or flying in the cockpit.
• Actors: Actors need to be able to play any role at the drop of a hat, and often work long hours for days and weeks on end. It is frequently impossible to wear glasses while in character, and contact lenses can only be worn a limited number of hours per day without causing problems because of overuse. Laser eye surgery is thus an ideal solution, which is why so many actors, from Nicole Kidman to Brad Pitt, have opted to have the procedure done.
• Surgeons: Grey’s Anatomy and other similar programmes may or may not overdramatize the lives of surgeons, but whether operating on brains, limbs, or intestines, surgeons still need to be able to see the smallest details clearly as they work. Like in some of the aforementioned professions, long hours make contact lenses difficult to wear, and glasses can prove a distraction when focus is of the utmost importance. Furthermore, both hands are often engaged and thus unable to readjust specs that have shifted out of place during surgery.
• Cooks: Cooks and chefs who sport glasses will be familiar with the phenomenon of foggy glasses whenever draining pasta, leaning over simmering stir-fries or opening the oven to check on the status of a dish. While this may not be life or limb threatening, it can be frustrating in an industry where typically a number of dishes are on the go at once, not leaving down time to wait for fog to clear. Lenses are a viable alternative in this instance, but for those disinclined to wear contacts, laser eye surgery can make a huge difference.
• Firemen: Glasses are obviously impractical in the dynamic and high pressure situations that firemen find themselves in, and the presence of smoke can seriously irritate contact lenses, making laser eye surgery an ideal solution.