18 and Thinking About LASIK? You’re Not Alone!

18 and Thinking About LASIK? You’re Not Alone!

Published by Lance Kugler, MD on July 24, 2017

When your eyes reach maturity, typically between ages 18-21, laser vision correction becomes available as a long-term alternative to glasses and contacts. Laser vision correction reshapes the cornea, the front part of the eye, to change its focusing power, resulting in clear vision.

What is the Best Age to Undergo LASIK?

The earlier in life you have LASIK, the more money you save, the more time you save, and you have more time to experience life without the hassles of glasses and contacts.

Benefits of LASIK:

• Virtually painless
• Quick recovery
• Safer than contacts
• Vision correction effect is long-lasting
• Freedom from the hassles of glasses and contacts
• Saves money by ending the cycle of buying glasses, contacts, and supplies
• Life without the barriers of glasses and contacts when:
  • Waking up
  • Seeing the alarm clock
  • Running
  • Riding a motorcycle
  • Swimming
  • Playing contact sports
  • Exercising
  • And more

Laser vision correction is a long-lasting solution that helps you see more naturally and frees you from the daily hassles of glasses and contacts, so you can enjoy life to the fullest. LASIK vision correction is the most common laser vision procedure, however, PRK and SMILE vision correction are great options for patients who are not candidates for LASIK.

How Do I Know LASIK Is Right for Me?

At Kugler Vision in Omaha, Nebraska, we take a unique approach toward your vision care – VisionTrackTM. The VisionTrackTM approach to holistic vision care at Kugler Vision provides you with a customized plan for your best possible vision, not just now but for the rest of your life. When you come in for an EyeAnalysisTM total vision assessment to find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK, our doctors will determine your best possible vision correction solution for your unique eyes and stage of life.

At Kugler Vision, there are four vision milestones on the VisionTrackTM. We offer safe and effective vision solutions for each of them.

Kids and Teens Ages 10-17

• Good eye health starts early, when kids’ bodies are developing and vision changes occur rapidly. It is crucial to monitor and track these changes during this stage, as the information you gain during these developmental years leads to more informed decisions in the future. We also use this as an opportunity to educate about the good habits of overall eye care.

This age group of patients can usually benefit from our EyeAnalysisTM Eye Assessment.

Young Adults Ages 18-43

• In early adulthood, typically between ages 18-21, your eyes have completely developed and are stable enough to benefit from laser vision correction. Choosing to have laser vision correction at an early age is an economical decision and a positive lifestyle decision. The type of vision correction treatment will depend on the health of your eyes and your current prescription, but the overall target for any patient at this stage is to achieve complete independence from glasses or contacts.

This age group can usually benefit from laser vision correction such as LASIK, PRK, or SMILE. To find out which solution is best for you, please contact us to schedule a consultation with our doctors.

Middle Years Ages 44-60

• As you enter your 40s, you may start to notice a growing need for reading glasses. Things at a near distance start to become blurry, even if you had LASIK earlier in life. The need for reading glasses is the first stage of a condition called dysfunctional lens syndrome (DLS). DLS is a natural part of the aging process. When you’re a patient in our VisionTrackTM program, we will be able to identify this process at its earliest stages. We will then provide a treatment protocol to reduce or completely eliminate the need for reading glasses.

Patients in this demographic can usually benefit from laser vision correction, corneal inlays, or refractive lens exchange (RLE). To find out which solution is best for you, please contact us to schedule a consultation with our doctors.

Adults 60 and older

• As you continue to age, you start to notice changes in the quality of your vision. This is due to the eye’s natural lens becoming hard  and yellow – the early stage of cataract development. No one is immune to cataracts. It’s a natural part of the aging process, even if you had LASIK earlier in life. The changes are slow and can often go unnoticed for years. Many of our first-time patients 60 and older are cataract sufferers seeking relief. We specialize in cataract treatment and administer the most advanced methods for cataract removal, including all-laser cataract surgery.

This age group of patients can usually benefit from refractive lens exchange (RLE), laser cataract surgery, and sometimes laser vision correction like LASIK. To find out which solution is best for you, please contact us to schedule a consultation with our doctors.

Your Time is Now

No matter which stage of life they’re in, 90 percent of people who wear glasses or contacts are eligible to have their vision corrected with one of our available procedures. If you are ready to transform your life with vision correction, contact us today at 402.558.2211 to schedule a consultation.

Lance Kugler, MD

Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.