Mum Life Without Glasses: Is Laser Eye Surgery Actually Worth It?

As a mum, you often need to keep track of what feels like a hundred different things every day. School drop-offs. After-school activities. Grocery shopping. Household chores. Work commitments. Family favours. They can all quickly fill every spare moment you have.

In the middle of all this, you’ve also got to look after your health and general well-being, which can be hit-and-miss. Not least because while you might be on top of things like staving off a cough or a cold, it's natural that what you perceive to be less pressing issues might fall to the wayside. One such area is your eyesight.

It is estimated that approximately 59% of women in Australia are currently living with long-term eye or vision conditions. They include refractive errors, such as hyperopia (long-sightedness), myopia (short-sightedness), and astigmatism, as well as age-related conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and dry eye syndrome.

The good news is that most of these issues are correctable, and in some cases, one treatment option is laser eye surgery. Of course, this comes at a cost, which you will need to weigh up. But if you do have it performed, it will enable you to see clearly without needing to reach for glasses or contacts.

For many mums with busy schedules, the question thus becomes: is laser surgery actually worth it? To help you answer it, let's take a closer look.

Why Do So Many Mums Start Thinking About Eye Treatment?

Glasses and contact lenses can be very beneficial to those who don’t have perfect 20-20 vision. However, there often comes a point where they might start to feel more frustrating than helpful.

Perhaps your glasses constantly slide down your nose while chasing toddlers at the park. Or maybe your contact lenses feel dry after a long day at work. You may even be tired of packing your spare lenses, cleaning solutions, and backup glasses whenever you travel. Whatever the reason, some women, after years of relying on vision correction tools, eventually reach a point where they feel it's time to resolve the issue.

For many mums, particularly those who are active, regularly drive, exercise, swim, or spend time outdoors with their children, the promise of life without glasses that laser eye surgery brings can be particularly appealing.

What Is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery is a vision-correction procedure that was developed in several stages back in the late 1980s.

At its core, it uses advanced laser technology to reshape the cornea. In doing so, it allows light to focus more precisely on the retina. This improves your vision and reduces your reliance on wearing glasses or contact lenses.

This type of professional eye surgery is commonly used to correct conditions like short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism. There are several treatment options available. However, not everyone is a suitable candidate. That is why it is essential to have a thorough assessment by a qualified optometrist, who will consider factors such as your age, prescription stability, and eye health.

What Are the Different Types of Laser Eye Surgery?

Many mums are surprised to discover that there are several treatment options available. The most well-known is probably LASIK, a procedure that involves creating a thin flap on the corneal surface before reshaping the underlying tissue with a laser. This is popular because it typically offers the fastest recovery time. Many patients notice improved vision within a day or two.

Other forms of treatment include PRK and TransPRK, procedures that reshape the cornea without creating a flap. These treatments are often recommended for people with thinner corneas. Or those whose lifestyle or occupation may make a flap-based procedure less suitable. While recovery can take a little longer than LASIK, the long-term vision outcomes are often just as good, if not better.

In recent years, SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) has emerged as a newer, minimally invasive form of laser vision correction. Its main difference is that, rather than creating a flap, the procedure uses a small incision to remove a tiny piece of corneal tissue. Many patients are attracted to it because it involves less disruption of the corneal surface.

What Everyday Benefits Do Mums Notice After Professional Eye Surgery?

One of the biggest reasons people consider laser eye surgery is that it offers them the opportunity to enjoy better sight.

Many patients report being able to read as soon as they wake up in the morning, drive without reaching for their glasses, or see clearly during exercise. Some even have said that family activities have become much easier. Especially trips to the beach, swimming pools, sporting events, and outdoor adventures, which evidently feel less complicated for those who no longer need to manage glasses or contact lenses.

For some mums, the biggest benefit is simply having one less thing to think about each day. Not wearing glasses or contact lenses can also give them a massive boost of confidence and makes them feel more comfortable in photos, social settings, or professional environments.

How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost?

The cost of laser eye surgery in Australia will vary depending on several factors. But as a ballpark figure to wrap your mind around, you can expect to pay between $2,500 and $5,500 per eye. 

This might be quite expensive for many families. However, most clinics provide payment plans to make the treatment more accessible. If you are considering laser eye surgery, make sure you request a detailed quote that outlines specifically what you are paying for.

It is worth noting that, as with any medical procedure, there is a degree of risk involved in laser eye surgery. Some patients experience temporary dry eyes, glare, halos around lights, or fluctuating vision during recovery. Overall, though, these side effects are usually temporary.

Is Laser Eye Surgery Worth It?

At the end of the day, only you can decide whether laser eye surgery is worth it. That said, it is important not to be put off by the upfront cost. 

Many Australians need to purchase multiple pairs of glasses over the years. When you consider the costs for prescription sunglasses, replacement lenses, contact lenses, cleaning products, eye appointments, and emergency replacements, the total can become substantial.

Despite the cost, it is important not to base your decision about whether to have laser eye surgery purely on financial grounds. Instead, you should weigh up the benefits of better sight and the convenience of not having to manage eyewear when determining what the right course of action is for you.