2 December 2008 - 16:32The Youthful Move to Intralasik

Did you know that our rising and current college students are candidates for laser vision correction at age 18? At Beach Eye Care as well as across the country, our youth are seeking visual freedom from glasses and contact lenses in increasing numbers. The benefit – losing the hassles of contact lens wear, red eyes on those late nights – and seeing the way to a clearer future.

Check out this story of one college student who had laser vision correction before her freshman year and is poised to graduate in 2009. Kristin had blurred 20/80 vision in just one eye and had worn a contact lens mostly for sports. She was too lazy to wear it all the time with good vision in the other eye and rarely wore glasses as most youthful contact lens wearers desire to avoid. She is pursing a premedical Biology major. She underwent Intralasik 1 month before her first semester gaining 20/15 vision and was ready for the large classrooms of the University of Virginia.

So, who is a good candidate for laser vision correction? In the 18-25 age range, stability of refraction (glasses power) is needed with only a small change since the last exam of a previous year. There is a greater chance (approximately 2%/year) of needing a future enhancement or touch-up as the eyes may continue to change. Higher degrees of nearsightedness may be better treated with surface laser vision correction (PRK) or waiting until age 21 for ICLs (implantable collamer lenses). This puts safety first to minimize the late complication of excessive corneal thinning. Dry eyes are less common at this young age.

Will laser vision correction become as common as braces and be a right of passage? Only time will tell as more of our future – our youth – seek visual freedom via laser vision correction. Beach Eye Care is here to answer any questions you may have about your vision correction options.

– Dr. Neatrour