Laser vision correction procedures, like LASIK, are only for powerful - achieving the excellent vision that, unlike eyeglasses or contact lenses, is much more precise, always in place and that stands up to opposites. Many people in demanding professions - pilots and emergency first responders come to mind - are actually quick to recognize and benefit from the important things about laser vision correction. So have athletes, who count on their vision to learn at top levels, and who will have to be effective in difficult environments - in dirt, sand, wind and rain, going quickly from sunlight to artificial light, and dealing with physical conditions, including exertion and collisions, that produce eyeglasses and contacts hard - and in many cases dangerous - to make use of.

Recent advances in technology are making laser vision correction best of all for athletes. But you can find issues to take into account, including which laser vision correction is best for each particular athlete and/or sport. Dr. Derek N. Cunningham, O.D., the director of research and optometry only at Dell Laser Consultants, explored these questions within an extensive article that's published recently in The Review of Optometry.

According to Dr. Cunningham, there are many reasons why athletes like laser vision correction:

-Better vision after LASIK surgery helps reaction some time to depth perception

-LASIK lets you see contrast better under different varieties of light than glasses or contacts

-LASIK stands up to extreme environments. Sweat, helmets as well as other gear causes it to be impossible to wear glasses. And disposable lenses aren't completely reliable in two extremes.

LASIK is easily the most popular laser vision correction procedure on the market which is a good and effective option which provides excellent vision which has a fast recovery time in a very two-step process. This includes setting up a flap inside the cornea - today most surgeons work with an advanced, very precise laser instrument known as a "femtosecond laser" - to expose the inner cornea where the vision correction is conducted. Once the flap is replaced, the process is over and, typically, patients experience an instant improvement in their vision quality. That improvement increases throughout the recovery process. But other approaches can be obtained that don't involve a flap - instead, the surgeon utilizes a laser to reshape the outer surface of the cornea. This is recognized as "surface ablation," - specific techniques include Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). These offer excellent results at the same time, but there is a longer recovery period. Which technique is better? It depends for the patient. In making the selection, athletes and their LASIK surgeons should think carefully about:

-Does it matter for your requirements to find out contrast well? It does to many athletes, who've to sight small objects (like balls) against changing backgrounds (just like the sky or grandstand). Clinical studies show femtosecond-laser flaps allow better contrast detection.

-How much time could you choose to use recover? If you have a lengthy off-season, surface ablation can be a great choice. But recovery is really a lot faster once we cut a flap while using femtosecond laser. That can be quite a better option for athletes who have to be back in action quickly.

-What's the potential risk of eye injury in your sport, and what type of injury are we discussing? After 15 years and 16 million procedures, we know LASIK is certainly a safe and stable vision correction choice for various sports - including contact sports including football and boxing. But when there is a high probability of getting jabbed within the eye which has a finger - for example in basketball, wrestling, and mma - surface ablation would be the better option.

-Are you ready to play your posture and be part of the treatment team after surgery? Most patients experience some unwanted effects after laser vision correction - especially, dry eye. For athletes as for all patients, it usually resolves a month. But it could be more bothersome for athletes than for non-athletes. We treat it aggressively, by using a mixture of oral antibiotics, medicated eye drops, artificial tears, Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, and nutritional support, both before and after surgery. Athletes should view the treatment regimen - and the need for adhering to it.

-What can you expect from laser vision correction? Knowing what the surgery will perform to suit your needs, and exactly what it won't do, will allow you to have a good experience. Talk to your surgeon, make certain he or she understands your needs as an athlete, and make sure you recognize how your vision can change, and how that might affect your speed. Involve your coaches and trainers, with as much information as you possibly can about your specific needs.