LASIK can transform the way you see the world. So can photography. And the two together can be a perfect marriage.
LASIK has been a tremendous benefit to many photographers, whether they’re professionals, dedicated amateurs, or simply parents trying to snap every moment of family life. By eliminating the hassle of glasses or contacts, LASIK makes it easier and more comfortable to handle cameras, especially the small digital cameras that are increasingly popular among professionals as well as enthusiastic amateurs.
Many photographers need vision correction, and for decades, many have relied on eyeglasses or contacts. But contact lens wearers can be hampered by dust, sand, water or other harsh environmental conditions that photographers often encounter. Glare can be a problem for contact lens wearers as well.
Eyeglasses need to be managed, and can prevent a photographer from seeing the full image in the viewfinder. Only the most expensive professional cameras offer full “eye relief” – the ability to see the full viewfinder image while the eye is a few inches away from the viewfinder, as would be the case for a photographer wearing eyeglasses. Some cameras also offer viewfinders with adjustable diopters that photographers can set to match their vision correction.
But less expensive cameras – including compact and Micro Four-Thirds models increasingly favored by professionals as well as amateurs – often have small viewfinders that offer little eye relief. Many of these cameras offer electronic displays that can be hard to read in bright light – a disadvantage for contact lens wearers and a challenge for everyone who needs vision correction.
Finally, there’s the simple fact that photographers need to manage lots of equipment – cameras, lenses, batteries – and removing eyeglasses or contact lens apparatus from the mix can make their lives in the field much easier.
Photographers who turn out to be good candidates for LASIK and who undergo the procedure will need to go through an adjustment period. In particular, night vision may be affected until the eye fully heals. But once healing is complete, the improvement in vision and the added convenience can make photography a much more pleasurable experience.
If you’re a photographer – professional, aspiring professional, enthusiastic amateur or just starting out – talk with us, or your surgeon, about LASIK. Find out what kind of a difference it can make in your creative life.
