Optical Prism July 2013 | Page 25

Laser eye surgery is another option for correcting the vision of older teens . In many ways , it ’ s becoming a rite of passage , like getting a driver ’ s licence or braces , says Dr . Avi Wallerstein , a founder of LASIK MD , a privately-owned company whose surgeons perform more than half of all laser eye surgeries in Canada .
The surgery permanently corrects near-sightedness , farsightedness and astigmatism . It is performed under local anesthetic , in the form of numbing eye drops and takes less than 10 minutes for both eyes , Dr . Wallerstein says in an e-mail to Optical Prism . Patients recover within hours . Most can resume dayto-day activities the next day .
The surgery makes life easier for teens , Dr . Wallerstein says . “ They can eliminate the ‘ crutches ’ of always needing glasses or contact lenses and have more freedom for certain dayto-day teen activities . There is less worry about breaking or bending glasses , or taking them on trips , or time and energy spent caring for contact lenses ,” he says . “ Water sports and athletics are now easier and many people gain confidence for school , interviews , or even with their peers .”
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