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Many students who are visually impaired in all capacities have most likely questioned improving their vision permanently, resulting with no need for glasses or contact lenses. While the option for this is increasing, there are fears about the effects that these procedures will have on the eyes.

One procedure increasing in popularity is Lasik eye surgery. Operating on the eye, like other operations, is rather dangerous and can lead to irreversible blindness. Knowing this, some students have changed their minds about wanting the procedure, while others are willing to take the chance.

Junior student Amy Rajan is undecided. She states that when new "technology and long-term effects of the surgery is available" she will consider having the procedure. Until then, Rajan does not believe she will be getting this procedure anytime soon.

Another student, Denise Virrey, does not care about any bad effects of this surgery. According to Virrey, her vision "can not get any worse than it is, so it's a risk worth taking."

Lasik eye surgery, a surgical procedure, has been around for nearly a decade and aims to help improve individuals' near or far-sighted vision and astigmatism.

Different procedures of Lasik eye surgery exist, even though the procedure is ideally the same.

Lasik eye surgery changes the shape of the cornea by using an excimer laser. The cornea is the clear covering of the front of the eye that helps protect the eyes from germs and dust. In addition to this, it helps the eye focus. In short, the cornea is the outermost lens of the eye that is responsible for the majority of the eye's focusing strength.

Next, a blade or laser device cuts a flap of the cornea in which a hinge is left at one end. When the flap is folded back, it exposes the stroma, the thickest layer of the cornea responsible for protecting the eye against trauma. A computer-controlled laser then sends pulses that vaporize part of the stroma.

The flap is replaced afterward and ideally, 20/20 vision has been reached.

The entire process takes approximately ten minutes or less and has an 80 percent success rate, according to WebMD. After the procedure, patients have to return to the Doctor's office in order to assess the progression of the eye's vision. Furthermore, after a few years individuals may need to be operated on again as the eyes are always changing.

Like all medical procedures, Lasik eye surgery has a few risks of its own. Those who do not experience successful surgeries are possibly left with irreversible cornea damage.

Some patients lose partial or total vision, develop glares or halos that affect nighttime vision, or even acquire dry eye syndrome, in which the eye is not able to produce tears to keep the eyes moist.

Furthermore, Lasik surgery was not developed until 1998, so long-term effects of corneal repair are unknown.

The positive side of the surgery of course is obtaining the 20/20 vision that individuals long for. There is little pain and recovery is usually quick. Patients are generally able to see perfectly within a day after their surgery. Some patients do not need any corrective lenses after the procedure.

The total cost of the surgery varies by the practice, doctors, and type of procedure individuals choose. WebMD reports that some surgeries may cost up to $2,000 to $2,500 per eye.

For some individuals, this price is a bargain once the price of lifetime corrective lenses and frames are factored. Those who wear any type of corrective lenses know that vision is in fact, priceless.

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