Often times my friends, family and patients will ask me about LASIK. So many of them are intrigued by the opportunity to live life free from the hassles of glasses or contact lenses. However, there seems to be a big mystery surrounding the process, and there are many misconceptions. Some people are nervous about the procedure itself, while others worry about whether or not the effects will be permanent. Other times people are simply wanting reassurance that the process is straightforward and well tolerated. All of these issues can make the thought of getting LASIK a bit overwhelming, especially when misinformation about LASIK is so readily available. Well, I’m here to tell you that getting LASIK is simple and precise, when in the hands of the right team. In fact, it is very similar to hanging pictures on the wall. Let me explain.

We recently moved, and if anyone has been through that process, it is not for the faint of heart. Once the heavy lifting is over, it becomes time to hang pictures on the walls and make the house into a home. My daughter is a big Disney fan, and she had a series of movie style posters that she wanted me to hang. Sounds simple, right? Hang 8 pictures in 2 rows of 4 over a couch. How hard could that be? There are two answers to that question. 1) Very simple. Just eyeball it, and hope that it looks right in the end. 2) Easy, only after an intense amount of measuring and a whole lot of planning.

You see, to achieve a good end result, we needed to understand the variables in the equation. We began by measuring the wall, measuring the couch, and measuring the pictures. I also needed to know exactly where the mounting brackets were located on the back of the frames. It turns out they were not all in the same place. That meant I had to remount them all in a new, consistent spot. Then, I had to decide (with my wife and daughter’s guidance), exactly where we wanted the outside pictures to be placed, and how far we wanted them spaced from the couch, the ceiling, and from each other. Then, I needed to calculate the remaining space so that I could decide where each hole should be placed. This process took me about two hours. Maybe I over thought it. Maybe I could have done it an easier way. Regardless, I did the math, measured more than once, and finally began drilling holes in the wall, and placing my drywall anchors. At each point, I had to stop and make sure I liked the way it was coming together. Ultimately, the project turned out beautifully, and I once again proved my handiness to my family.

So, what does this have to do with LASIK? Great results do not happen by chance. They are the result of intense planning. The process of hanging a picture is actually quite easy. However, without a great deal of planning to know exactly where to place each picture, I would not have achieved the result I
wanted. LASIK is very similar.

The procedure itself is quite easy. However, it requires a team of highly
intelligent doctors using precision equipment to determine the exact treatment for each patient. Excellent results require an extra level of dedication to the process. At Commonwealth Eye Surgery, we are willing to go the extra mile to make sure each patient gets the results they desire. So, whether it’s hanging pictures on a wall, or taking care of my patients, I have one goal: perfection.