For An Emergency Response Team, Glasses Can Be A Hazard

For an emergency response team—police officers, firefighters, paramedics, the military, and emergency medical technicians—good vision can be a matter of life and death.

First responders who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses often find them a hindrance, or even a hazard, that can interfere with their ability to do their job. A police officer can lose his or her glasses while attempting to arrest a suspect, placing their lives and those they are protecting in jeopardy. This isn’t a general example; it has already happened.

LASIK and firefighters in an emergency response team

The harsh environments endured by firefighters in an emergency response team, with smoke, water and debris flying around, can make contact lenses blurry and the heat during a fire can make lenses uncomfortable to wear.

For these reasons, many emergency responders are turning to vision correction surgery, such as LASIK, in order to perform their jobs more safely and effectively. For those who are thinking about having the procedure, here are some commonly-asked questions and answers:

Published February 6, 2016
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