Seven Stars Who Have Had Laser Vision Correction

Believe it or not, many celebrities benefit from LASIK eye surgery — it’s not for vanity purposes like other surgeries for which they’re commonly known to lust after, but LASIK actually helps them to perform their jobs better. After the LASIK procedure, athletes can see things like lines, nets, balls and plays better without the hindrance of wearing glasses during a game. Actors and television personalities can better read cue cards and lines, and stage performers can feel more comfortable knowing that the rigors of dancing or acting are better fulfilled without pesky glasses or contacts.

Discover which celebrities have undergone a laser vision procedure to correct their vision, and read about the positive effect it has had on their lives and careers. You might be surprised to find that some of them have suffered from vision difficulties their entire lives!

1. LeBron James

How You Know Him: LeBron James plays for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and formerly played for the Miami Heat. Since 2003, his most notable achievements include winning two NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards and two Olympic gold medals. He’s also been on 10 NBA All-Star teams, nine All-NBA teams, and five All-Defensive teams. He remains the Cleveland Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer.

Year of Surgery: 2007

After LASIK: James has told reporters that he can see the rim and net much clearer after surgery, and his field goal percentage has gone up from 46 to 49 percent.

2. Nicole Kidman

How You Know Her: Nicole Kidman is an Australian actress best known for her roles in “Days of Thunder,” “The Others,” “Moulin Rouge!” and “The Hours,” for which she won an Oscar for best actress in a leading role in 2002. She has also been nominated for numerous other Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. She’ll star as Grace Kelly in 2014’s “Grace of Monaco.”

Year of Surgery: 2007

After LASIK: “I was walking around legally blind. Now I have 20/20 vision. I can’t believe I spent so many years blurry, but I think that coincides with how I was feeling. Now I notice if people are watching me, but I also smile right back if someone waves, which helps.”

3. Kristin Cavallari

How You Know Her: Kristin Cavallari is a television personality, actress and fashion designer. She has starred in MTV’s reality series, “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County,” and “The Hills.” She married Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in 2013.

Year of Surgery: 2007

After LASIK: “Dr. [Robert] Maloney told me I have what’s called ‘super vision,’ which is better than 20/20, so I couldn’t be happier… Life after LASIK has been an awakening.”

4. Kim Kardashian

How You Know Her: Kim Kardashian is a television personality who stars on the E! cable channel’s reality series, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” She’s also a model and fashion designer who has launched clothing collections and fragrance lines. She recently married rapper Kanye West, and they have a daughter, North.

Year of Surgery: 2009

After LASIK: “I can see so clearly, better than I ever have before. I’m just loving everything that’s going on right now.”

5. Elton John

How You Know Him: Elton John is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and pianist who’s celebrated a five-decade career in which he has sold more than 300 million records. He has received six Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. Billboard ranked him as the most successful male solo artist of all time, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Year of Surgery: 2003

Before LASIK: In reference to the procedure and his over 4,000 pairs of glasses: “I’m so fed up with ‘Where are they?’ I can’t see anything, so why wait?” While Elton likely won’t be seen without his iconic tinted shades, at least now he doesn’t have to worry about adding prescription lenses to every pair.

6. Jessica Simpson

How You Know Her: Jessica Simpson is a singer, television personality and fashion designer. She rose to fame with her 1999 single, “I Wanna Love You Forever,” and later starred with her now ex-husband Nick Lachey in MTV’s reality show, “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.” She plans to marry former NFL player Eric Johnson in 2014, and they have two children together.

Year of Surgery: 2004

After LASIK: “It’s like being healed by God! I was legally blind; I couldn’t see without contacts or glasses. I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. I couldn’t see the big ‘E’ on the (eye test) screens.”

7. Dwyane Wade

How You Know Him: Dwyane Wade is a professional basketball player for the Miami Heat who joined the NBA in 2003. In 2006, he led the Heat to its first championship in franchise history and was named the NBA Finals MVP. Wade helped lead the 2008 Olympics United States men’s basketball team to gold medal honors in Beijing, China, and was also part of Miami’s second and third championship wins in 2012 and 2013.

Year of Surgery: 2011

After LASIK: “It’s kind of an amazing thing to see your eye wide open and to see something go right by it, see things touching it and you can’t even feel it.”

Other Celebs Who Have Undergone LASIK Eye Surgery

• Brad Pitt
• Reese Witherspoon
• Michael Bolton
• Kenny G
• Barry Manilow
• Cindy Crawford
• Courteney Cox
• Julianne Moore
• Brooke Shields
• Drew Carey
• John Goodman
• Dennis Quaid
• Lorenzo Lamas
• Jeremy London
• Alan Thicke
• Patrick Ewing
• Tiki Barber
• Vijay Singh
• Troy Aikman