What Costs More? LASIK or the Hassle of Glasses and Contacts?

What Costs More? LASIK or the Hassle of Glasses and Contacts? The answer might surprise you!

If you’re still just thinking about having LASIK, there must be something holding you back. For a lot of people, it comes down to sticker shock. Anything with a price tag in the thousands of dollars range can be a bit much to swallow. But have you really considered the cost of not having LASIK? That’s where you might be surprised, and it just move you one step closer to getting rid of your glasses and contacts for good.

The Cost of Glasses and Contacts Over Time

Every time you have an eye exam or buy new frames, eyeglass lenses, contacts, drops, or solutions, that’s money you could have been spending on LASIK. Sure, it’s a lot easier to drop a couple of hundred dollars here and there than it is to drop a thousand at a time, but over time those hundreds are going to add up. And the younger you are, the more money that will add up to over time.

For example, if you spend $500 each year on eye care, in just 5 years that’s $2,500! And in 10 years that’s $5,000! You get the idea, but as time keeps ticking that’s more and more money you’ll be spending that you could have been using to pay for LASIK. (If you really want to break down the math, check out Saddleback Eye Center’s contacts and glasses cost calculator.) And at Saddleback Eye Center where you can take advantage of 0% financing and pay for LASIK over time, it’s almost the same as paying for your normal eye care expenses—except you’ll be getting clear vision AND getting rid of the hassle of your glasses and contacts!

Putting a Price Tag on “Hassle”

Speaking of hassle, this is where the real costs of not having LASIK can start to add up. Here are some of the top “hassles” of wearing glasses and contacts. It’s up to you to decide how much these are costing you!

• The sleep factor: If you’re a contact lens wearer, taking out your contacts every night and putting them back in every morning can be a real pain. Ever had one of those nights where you’re just too tired to possibly do one more thing before hitting the pillow and then—UGH—you remember you still need to take out your contacts? Wouldn’t it be nice to just head straight to bed for a change?If you do decide that you’re just too tired to take out your contacts for a night, you might get stuck paying the price in the morning with dry, scratchy eyes. That’s just another perk of those pesky contact lenses!
• The cost of convenience factor: If you’re fortunate enough to wear overnight contacts and don’t have to take them out every night, good for you. But it’s likely this convenience costs you more than other types of contacts. Don’t forget—every penny you spend on contacts is money you could be using to pay for LASIK!
• The dirt factor: Whether you wear glasses or contacts, dirty lenses are no fun. Greasy, thumb-printed eyeglasses are a bit easier to clean, but contacts can be a real chore. Sometimes, no matter what you do and no matter what expensive cleansers you use, it might feel like you just can’t get that invisible dirt off of your lenses. That means a less than comfortable experience when they are in your eyes. If they’re really bothering you, you can wear your back-up glasses, but then you’re wearing glasses—what you were trying to get rid of when you got your contacts in the first place!
• The scratch factor: Eyeglasses don’t require a ton of maintenance…other than trying to go through life without scratching your lenses or breaking your frames! One tiny hairline scratch might not be so bad, but then once you get that deep scratch right in your line of sight—that can be a real bummer. You can either live with the scratch and just pretend to ignore it or you can give in and buy a new lens. The first option is a nuisance, and the second is just using up money that could have gone into your LASIK fund. Unless you live in a bubble, it’s probably nearly impossible to avoid the dreaded scratch.
• The broken factor: A scratch might seem like less of a big deal if it’s being compared to broken frames. You might take pristine care of your glasses most of the time, but there’s inevitably going to be that ill-fated moment when your frames meet the bottom of a shoe or the grip of a spirited two-year old. However broken frames transpire, they can be a serious problem, especially if your back-up eyeglasses are either non-existent or horribly out of date (prescription- or style-wise!). And if the frames you happen to break are your prescription sunglasses, you’ll be left squinting until the reinforcements come in. Until you can get a full-time replacement pair, there are going to be a few struggles that you’ll just have to deal with.
• The ruined vacation factor: Eyeglass and contact lens wearers probably agree…when you can’t see, it’s pretty difficult to enjoy a vacation. When you’re packing you might try to prepare for all of the possible scenarios related to your vision, such as packing an extra set (or two) of contact lenses or packing your spare glasses. But sometimes, the cards just don’t line up in your favor. Perhaps your luggage gets lost or you don’t have the necessary spare on you when the ripped contact lens/broken frame strikes. This can certainly be less than ideal if you’re in the middle of climbing a mountain or about to see an almost extinct species on your once-in-a-lifetime African safari. If you don’t have the proper eyewear with you right when you need it, it can be hard to make lemonade when life gives you lemons.

Wait—There’s More!

Keep in mind this is just a partial list of hassles—without much thought you can probably double it in no time! As you go through life, these are the unspoken costs that you have to consider when weighing the option to have LASIK. Sure, LASIK does come at a price, but so do the hassles of wearing glasses and contacts. When you choose to have LASIK, you’re not only paying to have clear vision, but also to get rid of the hassles and inconveniences of glasses and contacts that can slow you down.

Dr. Manger Can Help You Get Rid of the Hassle

Dr. Manger at Saddleback Eye Center wants to help you eliminate these hassles and give you the ability to see clearly, without glasses or contacts. To learn more about Dr. Manger and his signature LASIKSM procedure, visit saddlebackeye.com. Or, to go ahead and book your FREE* LASIK exam now, schedule your appointment online or call 877-351-3937.