Why Do Eye Doctors Wear Glasses? Is LASIK Actually Safe?

Why do eye doctors wear glasses?

It is a fair question -- and one we hear more often now that social media has turned it into an argument against refractive surgery.

The straightforward answer: eye doctors have refractive error just like everyone else. Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia -- these are normal variations in eye anatomy, not conditions that medicine has failed to solve.

Some optometrists and ophthalmologists have had LASIK, PRK, or SMILE. Others prefer glasses or contact lenses. The reasons vary:

• Personal preference -- some people genuinely like wearing glasses
• Not a candidate -- certain eye conditions or prescription profiles make surgery inadvisable
• Presbyopia -- after age 40, you need reading correction regardless of distance vision, so surgery does not eliminate glasses entirely
• Risk tolerance -- every surgery carries some risk, and some doctors choose not to accept it for themselves

Wearing glasses is not a clinical indictment of refractive surgery. If anything, doctors who wear glasses understand firsthand what their patients experience.

Is LASIK safe?

LASIK has been performed for over 25 years and has a strong safety and satisfaction profile -- when patients are properly screened.

The key word is screened. The candidacy assessment matters more than the procedure itself. Most complications and dissatisfaction come not from the surgery going wrong, but from operating on patients who should not have been candidates in the first place.

Risk factors that increase post-operative complications

• Dry eye disease -- surgery can worsen existing dry eye
• Binocular vision dysfunction -- misalignment or coordination issues can cause persistent symptoms after surgery
• Chronic pain conditions -- may increase sensitivity and discomfort during recovery
• Thin corneas -- not enough tissue to safely reshape
• Unstable prescriptions -- the correction may not hold
• Keratoconus or irregular corneas -- surgery can make these worse
• Certain autoimmune conditions -- can affect healing

A thorough pre-operative assessment by your optometrist can identify these risk factors before you ever see a surgeon. That is the point of co-management.

What if I am interested in refractive surgery?

LASIK is not the only option -- PRK, SMILE, and ICL are alternatives that may be better suited depending on your eyes. The first step is a comprehensive eye exam to assess whether you are a candidate. Your optometrist can evaluate your eyes, discuss the options, refer you to a trusted surgeon, and manage your care before and after the procedure.

For a full breakdown of how the process works, see Considering LASIK, PRK, or SMILE?

Related

• Considering LASIK, PRK, or SMILE? -- candidacy, procedure comparison, and co-management
• Understanding your eye prescription -- what the numbers on your prescription mean
• Presbyopia and reading vision -- why you may still need reading glasses after surgery
• Dry eye disease -- dry eye as a risk factor for refractive surgery