Connor began his journey to improving his quality of life when he came to see Lance Kugler, MD, at Kugler Vision in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Kugler performed LASIK vision correction, transforming Connor’s view of the world and helping him say goodbye to his glasses. Connor shares with us why he decided to have LASIK.
Meet Connor
Connor, 23, is from Pierce, Nebraska, and graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2017 with a degree in biomechanics. He is now in the process of applying to podiatry school. Connor is recently engaged and is planning a wedding in 2018.
In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf, running, and lifting weights. Connor has always been active and loved playing sports while growing up.
The Struggles of Glasses and Contacts
Connor has been wearing glasses since second grade. That can be difficult for an active kid. Connor says, “I remember my glasses broke in the sixth grade when a teammate accidentally punted a football in my face!” He didn’t have the best luck with glasses, so he thought contacts could be better, and began wearing them in seventh grade.
“Even though glasses were annoying to have in my way all the time, contacts weren’t always reliable either,” Connor says. “They fall out, get dry, and prevented me from enjoying sports.”
Connor’s biggest frustration about life with glasses and contacts was the process of putting his contacts in. “Shoving contacts in my eyes aren’t fun. The process of putting contacts in and taking contacts out is not enjoyable. When I’m tired, I have to pull my eyes open. My eyes never seem to open wide enough in the morning or late at night.”
Connor Knew It Was Time for LASIK
Connor first heard about LASIK when he was in third grade. His guidance counselor had always worn glasses, and then one day she was suddenly glasses-free. She said she had LASIK and loved it! Connor remembers thinking that LASIK sounded amazing. His cousin works as a surgical technician for a LASIK office in Denver. Connor says he has heard from her how the practice has helped many athletes, and how LASIK positively affected their lives and sports performance.
Since Connor is an athlete, he thought LASIK could greatly improve his life too. “I don’t want to reach for glasses in the morning for the rest of my life,” he says. “It would be nice to have clear vision all day, every day.”
Life After LASIK
After LASIK, Connor says he’s looking forward to enjoying his wedding day without glasses or contacts. “I want to see my wife with nothing between her and me.”
Connor also is looking forward to riding roller coasters. He is a bit of a thrill-seeker, and roller coasters have always been one of his favorite rides. When he wore glasses, he had to take them off and hold them in his hands so he wouldn’t lose them. But without his glasses, he could not see. After LASIK, he will be able to see clearly at every turn and drop without having to worry about breaking or losing his glasses.
Next summer, Connor plans to play summer baseball for the first time in five years. He is excited he’s getting LASIK now, so he’ll be able to focus on the game.
The day before his procedure, he said: “I am excited to get it done so that I can wake up with clear vision without having to reach for my glasses to see. I’m ready to have perfect vision!”
A New View
Laser vision correction is life-changing. If you are active and want to see the benefits of LASIK like Connor has experienced, please contact us to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK.
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.
