But, after growing tired of the 'masking-tape-on-the-bridge-and-temples' look that so negatively affected me during my early would-be dating years, I soon realized that I had better do what I could to make the most of my absolute dependence on wearing glasses, preferably without the masking tape as an added fashion statement.

So, I discovered and began wearing contact lenses during my early twenties.

But, as I mentioned in my earlier article on this topic I, after twenty years of contact lenses wearing, started to undergo changes within my eyes that were out of my control. Physical changes that would prohibit my being able to wear contacts except for only several hours each day.

Well, this didn't bode well for me since due to my severe myopia and astigmatism I would get headaches whenever I would wear glasses for extended periods of time.

And after having my opthamologist tell me about the severe case of giant papillary conjunctivitis that was occurring in my eyes and that it would take several months and maybe several years to remedy, if at all, I knew something drastic needed to occur.

And that is when the possibility of LASIK surgery entered the picture. Although my opthamologist had discussed this potential solution over the years he did not fully endorse it for me. Apparently I was not the optimal client for this type of surgery at the time and with the actual procedural requirements and limitations with this evolving medical technology.

But over the years the surgical techniques had improved sufficiently enough that he felt I could undergo sufficient correction with new technologies that were constantly being announced and so I took the plunge in the fall of 2004 to consider and schedule my very own LASIK procedure.

And I am sure glad that I did that.

As of this writing, just over one year after my LASIK surgery in January 2005 I can say that there have been significant changes in aspects of my life that I never imagined, or could see. No pun intended.

You see, the first thing that happened after my surgery was the immense sense of freedom I felt because my world was no longer limited to the nearest and clearest eight-inches in front of my eyes. It now spanned the entire world, or at least as far as I could see.

As you can imagine I was actually able to function in life without the fear of not being able to see if my glasses broke or I ripped one of my contacts and didn't have a spare set to wear. Instead, I could now see 24/7/365. I could see during the day, the night, far, near, and even see the stars clearer than before while needing glasses or contacts.

Now I'm not saying that after my surgery that I felt so free that I went out and started bungee-jumping and skydiving. No. Rather, I was able to function in life in a manner and with a freedom that I had not experienced since I was about ten-years-old, about the time I started needing to wear corrective lenses.

But, I also noticed something that I have never seen nor heard anyone else who has gone through LASIK surgery correction mention. And this 'something' for me was the fact that I no longer felt like I was hiding something from those who saw me.

You see, after my surgery I had the epiphany, after no longer needing to wear contacts, that I was carrying around a large amount of guilt because I was actually hiding the fact that I needed to wear corrective lenses all the time. And after my surgery, I realized that I didn't want others to know this fact and by the simple fact that all most people in my life knew me for was as a man who 'didn't need glasses' because that is what they saw when they looked at me. That is, a man without glasses or needing to wear them.

And the only way I became aware of this 'shame' and 'guilt' was after the surgery because I truly DID no longer need corrective lenses to see. And although I still looked the same to everyone else, now I truly didn't need to wear glasses or worry that someone would find out that I was 'hiding' the fact that I did need glasses to see.

Yes, I know, this is kinda 'out there' but it is something that I never figured or knew I was carrying around with me every day. And it certainly wasn't something that I expected to experience from having such a relatively simple 'cosmetic surgery' type of procedure. After all, it wasn't touted to have the mental benefit that I found myself experiencing.

So there, now you have it, and if you're considering LASIK surgery you too might undergo this 'transparent' change that truly will change your life, and perhaps even lift a little bit of unbeknownst to you self-induced burden off your shoulders.

But, LASIK surgery is not without its own inherent risks that require SERIOUS consideration and detailing.

Let me explain...

~~~~

You see, the Lasik surgery I underwent was not without problems.

Don't, don't, DON'T believe the television commercials and those newspaper ads you see of smiling people having the time of their lives now with family and friends and during those fantastic vacations scuba-diving, waterskiing, and snorkeling. LASIK surgery is just that...surgery. And all surgery has risks. Especially this type of surgery.

And when it comes to LASIK surgery, which is literally cutting into your eyeballs, well, mess this up and you don't get a second chance to get it right.

You see, LASIK surgery is occurring on a very very small portion of your eye and the correction actually occurs on such a microscopic scale that it can only be correctly done by a specially designed computer. And with this type of needed precision the procedure can get messed up, in untrained or with the wrong surgical hands.

Even I experienced what I can only classify as 'double-vision' for several months after my LASIK procedure. I went back to the surgeon several times complaining of this and he didn't know what it was because this double vision I experienced was only occurring during daylight hours. Nighttime vision was virtually perfect.

He was never able to tell me what was causing it and even rejected my suggestion that it was a 'central island'. But all I can speculate was occurring was that my eyes were not used to seeing 20/40 after being 20/900 and 20/750 for almost the last 15 years and they were taking their own roundabout time to adjust.

But fortunately for me now all I have is minor blurriness during the day and my vision is corrected to 20/20 with slight prescription sunglasses which work perfectly here in sunny Arizona.

Of course, I've read absolute horror stories on other websites which are valid and true and DO occur due to surgical mistakes and equipment malfunctions. So, again, don't believe that things CAN'T go wrong or that they won't happen 'to me'.

Essentially, my biggest tip: DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

Research the bejeabers (is that a word? ;-) out of the subject of laser vision correction. Find out what CAN go wrong and determine if you still want to take the risk. Get at least THREE opinions and analyses from corrective LASIK eye surgery clinics. And DON'T go with the bargain basement clinics offering the Thursday discount or the 'buy one get one free' special. Your eyes are much too precious to risk them that way.

Why do I say this? Because, I can tell you that when I was seeing double images ALL THE TIME and there was no correction for it, that was scary to me. VERY scary. The thought of having to see that way for the rest of my life was too much to consider.

But, I was one of the more fortunate ones in that the problem took care of itself after a couple of months. Others aren't so lucky as you can read elsewhere on the web.

So, ask yourself - "Is it worth it - the risk that is?" but DON'T tell yourself "Nah, it won't happen to me. Other people have the problems - not me."

Research www.asklasikdocs.com and www.mylasikstory.com to start.

And then realize if the risk is worth the benefits to you. For me, it was worth it. But if I were somehow writing to you today having to see through uncorrectable double vision, my answer would be different.

And, also, do realize that even if everything does work in your favor with the procedure that some documents on the web state that ANY messing around with LASIK has an effect on the cornea and increases a person's risk for glaucoma in later years. So don't think that even with a good 20/20 outcome that you've undergone a risk-free LASIK procedure. You haven't.

So, bottom line...

They're your eyes.

It's your decision.

Make it a good one 'cause you probably won't get a second chance with LASIK surgery gone bad.

Thank you kindly.

Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com
'Learn About Life From Another Perspective'

(Author's permission is granted to share this full article with others. Just leave the signature line intact, please.)