If you're a scuba diver who wears glasses, LASIK surgery is considered a safe vision correction option

On top of a mountain or underwater is no place to be worrying about glasses or contacts.

Active lifestyles and laser eye surgery. It’s a great match. You don’t want to worry about glasses or contacts when you are camping, participating in sports, or enjoying nature, whether you are an extreme mountain climber or a casual birdwatcher. But some people worry that laser eye surgery could jeopardize their ability to work or enjoy their recreational pastimes. There’s actually very little reason for concern. As this article on the basecampmd.com website notes:

“LASIK may be a good choice for individuals involved in high altitude activities, but those achieving extreme altitudes of 7927 m (26,000 ft) and above should be aware of possible fluctuation of vision. Data suggest that a small refractive shift in the myopic direction may be present at extreme altitudes.”

For reference, Mt Everest is 29, 029 feet high (8,848m). The highest peak in Canada is Mt. Logan in the Yukon, at 19,551 ft (5959m).

If the scenery below the water is more interesting to you than a mountaintop vista, you’ll be happy to know that LASIK also gets a vote of confidence from the diving community. Ernest S. Campbell is a doctor and a diver, who answers many questions about medical conditions and scuba diving on his website scuba-doc.com. Campbell has this to say about laser eye surgery and diving, citing the work done by Captain Frank K. Butler Jr of the U.S. Navy:

1. There are no case reports that document diving related complications after LASIK.

2. There are at least three potential complications that might occur in post-op LASIK patients as a result of diving:

- Globe rupture from face mask barotrauma (unlikely)
- Interface keratitis (infection of the flap interface)
- Flap displacement from interface bubbles

3. Complications that might impact the safety of divers include;

- Halo
- Glare
- Night diving complaints
- These decrease from 25+% early to about 4% in one year.

4. It is recommended waiting a minimum of one month before resuming diving after LASIK. [Butler]

For more information about diving and eyes, check out this article by Butler (originally printed in the May/June 1998 issue of Alert Diver, which answers the common questions divers have about their eyesight: Divers’ Most-Asked Questions About Their Eyes.

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Brent Harlton chose BoydVision’s blended vision procedure and has been thrilled with the decision. After years of relying on glasses and/or contacts, he has found a new freedom to enjoy his life without the hassle of glasses.

“I had glasses since I was 11 because I was nearsighted. It’s (blended vision) fantastic. It’s great not to be constantly taking glasses off and on, and always keeping them clean. Although, sometimes I do still forget at the end of the day, and try to take off my glasses before bed!”

The Answer to Aging Eyes

Even if you didn’t need glasses as a child or young adult, aging eyes usually means you’ll need reading glasses by the time you reach middle age, as the lens of your eye hardens and can no longer focus on very near objects. If you’re like Brent and were already wearing glasses for nearsightedness, you may have to get progressive lenses (bifocals) to give you clear vision for both distance and close-up.

Bifocal Convenience Without the Hassles

Either way, isn’t it nice to know there’s a scientific name for the slow decline of our eyes’ focusing power? This condition is known as presbyopia and until recently, glasses were the only answer to the problem. Now however, BoydVision’s laser blended vision correction makes it possible to offer the advantage of bifocal flexibility, without having to wear glasses.

BoydVision’s surgical team does a comprehensive pre-screening, to ensure laser blended vision correction is suitable for you.

Harlton is also getting more enjoyment out of his recreational activities, from crossword puzzles to golf.

“I can do crosswords in bed at night, without needing glasses, and when I’m golfing it’s great to have the close-up vision to see the ball and the distance vision (to look down the fairway). I feel like I can see forever and now I have way more choices when it comes time to buy sunglasses too.”

Laser blended vision works by treating one eye, adjusting its focal point so it is optimized for reading, while the other eye remains as-is (unless further treatment is recommended). The process begins with a thorough eye examination, so that Dr Boyd can determine if you are a good candidate for blended vision. The tests also determine your dominant and non-dominant eye. Your dominant eye is assigned the distance vision duties, while the non-dominant eye undergoes the LASIK treatment so it can focus on close-up objects.

Easy to Adjust to Blended Vision

A blend zone is also used, to create an overlap in the field of vision. Roughly 97% of the population can tolerate the ‘blend zone’ we use to create an overlap in the field of vision and feel comfortable with a slight difference in the vision between the two eyes. According to Brent, it was only a matter of 3 or 4 days before he had completely adjusted to his new blended vision.

Freedom From Glasses

When was the last time you could do a crossword, read a newspaper or mobile phone screen, or work on your computer – without reaching for your reading glasses? Tired of going out to eat and ordering the special rather than trying to read tiny type in a dark restaurant? Brent’s results are pretty typical of patients who choose BoydVision’s laser blended vision correction. It could well be the right solution for you too.

If you’re ready to get rid of your reading glasses, give us a call or use the online form to set up an appointment for a free consultation.

Visit our Pricing information page for information on the cost of BoydVision’s blended vision option

Watch a video about laser blended vision for more information on the procedure.

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Robots don’t need vision correction but sometimes the actors who play them do. photo: starwars.com

If you don’t like the way you look in glasses, LASIK and PRK laser eye surgery is clearly an option worth considering. But it’s rarely just a question of aesthetics for most patients. When it’s time to get to work, wearing glasses can be a drawback for many professions. Especially if you’re spending most of your day encased in a shiny gold suit. That’s what Anthony Daniels, the man behind the Star Wars character C-3P0 discovered during the filming of ‘Revenge of the Sith.’ The robot outfit made it impossible for Daniels to use his reading glasses, making it tough to read scripts on-set and a real challenge to do public appearances at movie events and science fiction conventions. With the encouragement of his wife, the English actor opted for laser blended vision, and Daniels hasn’t looked back. In an interview with Mail Online Daniels said, “The difference in my eyesight is nothing short of miraculous. I wish I’d had this done years earlier — it would have made life in the C-3PO suit so much easier.”

Needing glasses is definitely a hindrance for actors. They may have to play a historical character that didn’t wear glasses, or spend a long time on a dusty location, making contacts an uncomfortable hassle. As with Daniels, costume and make-up requirements can make glasses impossible. And when it is time to take on a role that does require glasses, it’s easy enough to wear frames with non-prescription lenses.

Who else among actors and entertainers has chosen laser eye surgery? It’s quite a long list. Did you know that these days, Weird Al Yankovic’s trademark glasses are just props? The song parody genius has LASIK surgery in January 1998. Another actor who dons heavy black frames merely for effect is comedian Drew Carey, who chose laser eye surgery during the run of his successful comedy series. Rolling Stone Keith Richards underwent laser eye surgery in January 2012, and it’s been the vision correction choice for Kim Kardashian, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon too.

If you’re an actor, your appearance is important and your vision is crucial. For the rest of us, reading in a robot suit may not be a problem we have to deal with, but the same good reasons to get rid of glasses certainly apply.

Some other celebrity laser eye surgery patients:

• Alan Thicke
• Ashlee Simpson
• Barry Manilow
• Brooke Shields
• Carlos Santana
• Cindy Crawford
• Courtney Cox
• Elton John
• Jeremy London
• Jessica Simpson
• Lisa Ling
• Lorenzo Lamas

> Get our most popular information package (102kb pdf)
> Book your consultation online

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Tax Tips for Canadian Laser Eye Surgery Patients

Every medical plan is a bit different, so you should definitely double check your own coverage and talk to your accountant or tax advisor, but in many cases laser eye surgery is covered by company medical plans. If it isn’t, it is still a tax-deductible expense – calculated based upon your income. The total costs must exceed three per cent of your net income and only the portion that exceeds your net income is claimed. Example: if your net income is $30,000, your medical expenses have to exceed $900 ($30,000 x 3%) and you can only claim the expenses over $900.

Better vision and a tax break. Laser eye surgery is a tax-deductible medical expense.

When you claim your laser eye surgery (and any other medical expenses), enter the amount on line 330 of your tax return. If you are claiming for a dependent, the amount goes on line 331. You cannot claim any expense which has been or can be reimbursed (such as through group medical coverage). However, you can claim the full expense if the reimbursement is included in your income, such as a benefit shown on a T4 slip, and you did not deduct the reimbursement anywhere else on your income tax and benefit return.

Taxpayers may claim qualifying medical expenses they paid in the taxation year, or in any period of twelve months ending in the taxation year. Any twelve-month period ending in the year may be selected to determine the most advantageous total for medical expenses. This could mean reporting expenses from June 2008 to May 2009 to give you the largest total to claim.

Even if you have medical or dental insurance that reimburses you for your health costs, you can still claim the portion of expenses that the insurance plan does not cover. And the premiums you pay for private health insurance, such as those deducted directly from your paycheque, can also be included as a medical expense.

There’s no doubt that the financial benefits of group plans can help make procedures such as laser eye surgery more accessible to more people. But the administrative costs can put coverage out of reach for a lot of smaller businesses. Now a program some are calling ‘the best kept small business tax secret’ could help. If the company you work for or own is incorporated, but doesn’t have group coverage, a new option called a Health Spending Account may make laser eye surgery more affordable for you and your employees.

Health Spending Account providers manage custom benefits packages for small companies that can’t afford a big group benefits package. Although it’s not just limited to small companies. The BC provincial government offers an HSA program to excluded employees of the BC Public Service and UBC also has an HSA for some employee groups to offer two local examples. If you want to learn more about these ‘secret savings’ google the term ‘health spending accounts’ for a number of resources you can investigate. BoydVision makes no endorsement or recommendation for particular programs.

Which medical expenses are eligible? – Government of Canada medical expenses eligibility

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Many union contracts and medical plans help pay for LASIK and PRK surgeries.

If you’re a union member the medical coverage in your contract could help pay for your LASIK procedure. Here are some vision care coverage details from various local union contracts we found online. You could save hundreds of dollars if you know what you can claim. Don’t see your union? Check back. We’ll keep updating the list.

City of Vancouver CUPE Local 15 City
City of Vancouver CUPE Local 15 Parks
(both) – $450.00 per person per twenty-four (24) month period, including coverage for laser eye surgery)

Burnaby CUPE Local 23
Effective 2009 January 01, $400 per person in a twenty-four (24) month period, laser eye surgery with a lifetime maximum payable of $500 per eye. Coverage for eye exams to a maximum payable of $75 (effective 2007 September 01, $100) per person every two (2) years.

Metro Vancouver Teamsters Local 31
Revised September 1, 2011 Fees for Corrective Laser Eye Surgery, when prescribed by a physician to a maximum combined benefit of $250 per person in any 24 consecutive month period. Eye examinations by a licensed optometrist to a maximum benefit of $50 in any 24 consecutive months. Subject to Exclusion and Limitations. 

CUPE Local 1267 Mission
Effective May 1, 2009, all regular employees participating in the employee benefits under Article 20, will be eligible for reimbursement to a maximum of $500 in a two (2) calendar year period for the purchase of corrective lenses and frames or contact lenses or laser surgery in accordance with the Extended Health Vision Care Plan.

Collective agreements are subject to change. Check with your steward or union executive for the most up-to-date official information. Want more details on BoydVision’s pricing and no interest financing? Pricing and Financing

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Dr Boyd's extensive experience in vision correction can help you find the right solution for your needs.

Dr Boyd and other BoydVision staff will be there in person on each day of the show, to answer your questions about LASIK, PRK, cataract surgery, blended vision, refractive lens exchange, and phakic implant. We’ll also have a great gift basket prize package and some other exciting giveaways for visitors. In addition, you can take home brochures and information kits with valuable information about laser vision correction, so you can review the information you need to make an informed choice about the right vision correction options for your lifestyle.

For Dr Boyd, the Wellness Show is an ideal opportunity to discuss vision correction in an informal setting. He’s looking forward to answering visitors’ questions and helping them gain a better understanding of laser eye surgery.

“I find that lots of people find this is a convenient way for the public to get some preliminary information before deciding if they want to go through a formal in-office consultation.”

In addition to the BoydVision booth, the Wellness Show also features cooking and fitness demonstrations, speakers, workshops, and lots of food samples to whet your appetite for healthy living!

The Wellness Show takes place Friday, Feb. 17^th (noon – 8pm), Saturday Feb. 18 (10am – 7pm), and Sunday, Feb. 19 (10am – 6pm) at the Vancouver Convention Centre (999 Canada Place) Exhibition Hall B and C. Tickets are $16.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors and students, $6.00 for children 6 – 15 years. Children under five years of age are free, and a three day pass is just $30.00. You can also save by buying your tickets online, or at any Choices Market location. To find out more about the seminars and workshops at the Wellness Show check out the daily schedule.

While many people consider Lasik or PRK laser eye surgery for a variety of reasons, those with an active lifestyle often find that having the procedure done brings a freedom they hadn’t previous enjoyed. Erin Dalzell, a Vancouver sales V.P. at InTouch Technology, chose Lasik surgery in 2001 and he hasn’t looked back.

“I was tired of wearing glasses and contact lenses,” says Dalzell. “Now the outdoor activities I enjoy are much easier.”

Erin isn’t alone in finding Lasik to be a great solution for playing sports. In fact, the roster of professional athletes who have chosen LASIK is a long and illustrious list. Not surprisingly, those sports that require a high level of hand-eye coordination and good distance vision are well represented. Professional golfers such as Tiger Woods, Tom Kite, and Hale Irwin have all undergone the procedure. In fact, Woods went on to win 7 of his next 10 tournaments after having LASIK done in 1999. Baseball and basketball players have also benefited. Lebron James underwent LASIK, improving his vision and his field goal percentage, while pitcher Greg Maddux pitched a one-hitter just two days after having his surgery done in 2000. Football players, race car drivers, Olympic athletes – they have all undergone the surgery and seen their performances benefit.

Other athletes who can benefit from laser eye surgery include swimmers and whitewater kayakers, as glasses are prone to fogging and unsuitable when you are in the water. As well, contact lenses do carry a risk of infection if bacteria in the water gets trapped between the lens and the eye. However, LASIK may not be suitable for some sports. Activities that have a risk of contact to the eye, such as karate, boxing, or mixed martial arts also carry the risk that the ‘flap’ that is created during LASIK could be damaged if the athlete suffers a sharp blow to the eye. However, PRK surgery is still a viable option for these individuals, as the different technique for this procedure doesn’t create a flap that can be dislodged, as the laser is used only on the surface of the eye. The downside is a longer recovery time of one to two weeks.

Whichever procedure is applicable for you, Dalzell recommends research and recommendations as the best way to overcome any nerves or apprehension regarding laser eye surgery.

“Talk to your optometrist, get recommendations from friends, don’t be cheap, and most of all, do your research.”

There’s a long list of famous athletes who have had laser eye surgery. Here’s a small sample:

Hockey

• Jeff Reese – Goalie
• Don Van Massenhoven – Referee
• Michael Peca – Forward

Freestyle Skiing

• Alex Bilodeau – 2010 Olympic moguls gold medallist

Golf

• Vijay Singh – PGA
• Bernhard Langer – PGA
• Mark McCumber – PGA

Automobile Racing

• Bryan Miller – Miller Motorsports
• Bryan Herta – IndyCar driver
• Joe Amato – NHRA Top Fuel Dragster driver

Considering laser eye surgery and a new outlook on life for the New Year? Ready to free yourself from the hassles of glasses or contacts? To help you make a decision that’s right for you, here are some important facts about laser eye surgery you should consider:

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society calls laser surgery of the eye “a safe, precise technique.” But the procedure doesn’t just have the approval of the eye care community. A 2009 peer review of quality of life and patient satisfaction literature regarding the LASIK procedure found satisfaction rates of over 95% were the norm (Ophthalmology, Volume 116, Issue 4, April 2009) making LASIK surgery the highest rated elective surgery for patient satisfaction.

Notably, there is also strong support for the procedure from the military. At a US Federal Drug Administration public hearing in 2008, laser vision correction was endorsed by a former Special Forces soldier turned eye surgeon, who characterized LASIK as an ideal solution for the battlefield, where glasses or contacts are susceptible to loss, damage, dust, and fogging – situations which could put lives at risk during combat operations. Speaking to the same panel, a Navy MD pointed to studies that showed only one disability retirement related to complication from laser eye surgery in the military (an incidence of only 0.009%) and successful flap stability tests showing the procedure can withstand the high G-forces encountered during ejection from a fighter jet and high-altitude parachute jumps.

So, laser eye surgery is deemed safe by regulatory bodies and the vast majority of patients are happy with the surgical outcomes. But is it worth the cost? At BoydVision Centre, we offer a fixed price of $995 per eye for custom LASIK or PRK surgery, plus interest-free financing. Not only is that less than the average industry price, it’s a good investment. With average frames costing around $200, and expensive designer glasses often $500 or more, losing or breaking those fancy frames can get expensive fast, plus you’ll probably want to update them regularly as styles change. Disposable contacts are also expensive. Not only that, for those who are concerned about the environment, it’s important to remember they’ll end up in the landfill, along with the packaging they came in. When you consider these factors, it’s easy to see how laser eye surgery’s lifetime solution is a sensible, cost-efficient way to correct your vision.

Laser Eye Surgery Information Sheet – Canadian Ophthalmological Society

Abstract – LASIK World Literature Review: Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction

LASIK informational video – Federal Drug Administration (USA)

LASIK/PRK Pricing and Financing – BoydVision Centre

Free Consultation – BoydVision Centre

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Looking for fun activities to enjoy over the holidays? Check out these ongoing family-friendly things to do:

• VanDusen Botanical Garden Festival of Light
• Grouse Mountain Peak of Christmas
• Burnaby Village Museum
• Ballet BC – The Nutcracker

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Want to completely understand the procedure? We’ll give it to you straight, helping you understand the benefits, risks, and what to expect during the post-operative period. Need to know the background of this revolutionary breakthrough in eye care before you decide? BoydVision’s blog will cover that too, explaining the years of rigorous research, testing, and approval process that has made laser eye surgery a safe, popular choice for millions of people. We’ll also dispel some of the common misconceptions around laser eye surgery and help you separate the facts from the unfounded fears.

Of course we are going to promote our services as well. We’re proud of what we do. But you won’t find us aggressively marketing to you on this blog. We believe that when you have a solid understanding of laser eye surgery, you can make an informed, intelligent decision. We understand that too much ‘hype’ makes people skeptical. We won’t make fantastic claims. We will deliver accurate information. We also know that it can take a while to decide. So check back. There will be new articles posted twice a month, so you can take your time, do your research, and when you’re ready to make a final decision, please take advantage of our free consultation to see if BoydVision’s services are right for you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Michael J. Boyd, M.D.

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