Professional athletes require excellent vision and hand-eye coordination to perform at their highest levels. When an athlete has a vision problem, traditional eyeglasses and even contact lenses aren’t the best cure. The athletes need either prescription sports glasses, excellent contacts, or vision correction to maintain or improve their athletic performance.
Many high level athletes have opted for LASIK vision correction, such as Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker just did. Tucker recently learned he was farsighted, which made it harder to focus on the football as it neared his hands. As you might imagine, that made it harder for him to catch passes.
Tucker underwent the kind of LASIK Utah service providers in Salt Lake City offer for any qualified patient who seeks vision correction without wearing eyeglasses or contacts. He now says he is seeing and catching the ball much better. His story is similar to those of many current and past professional athletes.
Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg Maddux underwent LASIK vision correction in 1999 while at the top of his game. The procedure made him better for longer, though, and he is in the Baseball Hall of Fame with several World Series wins and Cy Young awards to his credit. LASIK is a proven service that pro athletes trust to improve their vision.
How LASIK Eye Surgery Works
You need to see an ophthalmologist to obtain a LASIK vision correction service. The surgery uses a computer-guided cutting laser that your eye doctor programs to reshape the cornea in each affected eye to give it the proper focal point. The laser removes just enough corneal tissue to place the eye’s focal point where it belongs to ensure clear vision.
Unfortunately, LASIK doesn’t work on everyone. You need to see an ophthalmologist who can determine what’s affecting your vision. The eye doctor also can tell if you have enough corneal tissue for the laser to reshape your cornea and restore your vision. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
When a qualified eye doctor affirms LASIK is right for you, an appointment can be made to undergo the surgery. The procedure is quick and painless with each eye taking just a few minutes to correct. You can lie down on the operating table and let the LASIK machine and its cutting laser do its work. When you get up again, your vision should be greatly improved.
Common Side Effects of LASIK Surgery
It’s common to experience some eye irritation immediately after undergoing LASIK and for a couple of weeks afterward. The laser surgery will dry out each one upon which it is operated and cause minor swelling. Your eye doctor can prescribe eye drops to alleviate those conditions.
You mustn’t rub or scratch your eyes due to the irritation, which is why your eye doctor might prescribe eye protection for when you sleep. You also might get a large pair of sunglasses to wear during the daytime while you are outside or driving during the daytime until your eyes fully heal.
Another common issue is night vision, which can last for several weeks or a couple of months. The condition causes glare from traffic lights and streetlights until your eyes heal, but it shouldn’t affect your driving.