The Cost of Poor Vision

Your eyes are among your most valuable assets. They allow you to appreciate the beauty of a late-summer sunset, the magic of your child’s first smile and the majesty of the view through an airplane window. Vision impairment can rob you of your ability to fully enjoy these precious moments, and when deciding whether or not to proceed with LASIK surgery, it helps to consider what you might gain — or what you could continue to lose.

Early Mornings & Late Nights

Poor vision requires you to slip on a pair of eyeglasses or put in your contacts before you can fully experience the world around you. While it might take only a few seconds to correct your vision with these types of lenses, it still requires you to take an extra step in order to go about your day.

The baby monitor on the nightstand next to your bed alerts you to your infant daughter’s cries. You pull yourself to your feet, stumble down the hall and lift her from her crib. You might nurse her, sing to her or just rock her in the chair by the window, but poor vision makes even these tasks more difficult.

You might have similar experiences late at night after you have already removed your contacts or put your glasses in their case. Requiring assistance to see properly can result in missed opportunities as well as frustration.

Aches & Pains

Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can affect other areas of the body and even cause pain. If you have ever squinted at a computer or television screen, or leaned over to read the instructions on a box of casserole mix, you know that headaches, neck aches, back pain and other discomforts often walk hand-in-hand with poor vision.

One common side effect of poor vision is the development of poor posture. Because you must lean closer to objects in order to see them, you are more likely to hunch forward, bow your head and crane your neck. Poor posture can lead to chronic pain and make other conditions, such as arthritis, worse over time. Failing to correct your vision could have long-term consequences for your general health.

Mistakes & Misunderstandings

Misreading even a single word in a document can change its entire meaning. Vision impairment often leads to mistakes at home and on the job. Some occupations require workers to possess a certain level of visual acuity, but poor vision is almost always a liability when it comes to earning a living.

Other challenges present themselves when it becomes difficult to recognize familiar faces from a distance or to make good decisions while engaging in sports, games or hobbies. You might discover that you have to use a magnifying glass just to do the Sunday crossword puzzle, or that you tend to avoid dim lighting because you cannot trust your eyes.

Frustration & Expense

Eyeglasses or contacts get expensive, especially because both types of lenses must be replaced on a regular basis. You might also discover that, while corrective lenses help you see more clearly, they can also get in the way of an active lifestyle. Glasses might fall off during your daily yoga routine or get damaged while playing an impromptu game of basketball in the driveway.

Glasses are lighter than ever these days, but they can still create sinus pressure because of their position on the bridge of the nose. Contacts sometimes irritate eyes, especially if contaminants accidentally find their way between the lens and the eye. Pain and discomfort are among the most common sources of frustration.

Correcting the Problem

If you suffer from poor vision, make an appointment with your eye doctor. Taking steps toward correcting your vision can improve your lifestyle and overall happiness. You might also want to consider LASIK, especially if you have grown tired of wrestling with corrective lenses. LASIK could allow you to wake up in the morning, go to bed at night and experience all the moments in between without worrying about whether or not your vision will impair your ability to fully enjoy every second.