Laser eye surgery is the in-thing for the spectacle-trapped or contact lens-loathing who want to clear their foresight in style. It flexes the cornea, the eye's dome part, utilizing state-of-the-art lasers. An improperly bending cornea can leave you feeling like you're peering through a grimy window, but laser eye surgery can rectify this fashion faux pas, by - guess what - tweaking the cornea's shape.

LASIK (the laser-assisted super celeb of the eye surgery world) is everyone's favorite, but it doesn't roll out the red carpet to everyone - sorry folks, some restrictions apply. Pay heed - your health insurance probably won't cover this cosmetic indulgence. So, you can either stick with your good ol' glasses or contact lenses or decide to splurge on laser eye surgery.

The 'Why' you might need laser eye surgery has a wide range - from vanity to vision clarity or just wanting to break away from the mundane chore of wearing glasses or contact lenses. While LASIK is the Beyoncé of the laser eye surgery world, there are a few others who've got game.

Let's look at SMILE, PRK, and LASEK, vying for attention to be your next practical vision corrector. Before you jump on the LASIK bandwagon, you should know that it's not all unicorns and rainbows. And if you're among the one percent who fits the good candidate criteria, you must be prepared for some slightly unpleasant side effects, like eye dryness or fluctuating vision. Fear not, though; these should vanish in about a nanosecond (well, okay, maybe a month).

The story's the same for the underdogs - SMILE, PRK, and LASEK; they too have their checklist for an ideal candidate and are known for causing discomfort post-procedure. But let's be real, vanity has a price. Your vision can improve dramatically, though you may still need to befriend your spectacles for some tasks like reading. Getting old is a natural process, and unfortunately, laser surgery doesn't come with an eternal youth option.

Laser eye surgery, I repeat, isn't an all-access pass. There could be several reasons why even LASIK could be a complete no-no for you. Your precious peepers' health and your age are among the factors your ophthalmologist might consider. Brace yourself - the costs can make your eyes water even before the surgery. With LASIK averaging at around a whopping $4,400 for both eyes, and health insurance playing blind, you might want to start saving up or look for financing options.

To summarize, laser eye surgery can be an incredible option to ditch your glasses or contact lenses and improve your vision. But remember, it comes with a price tag. Errors in your eye's refraction can be corrected via LASIK, LASEK, PRK, or SMILE. However, you need to be prepared both financially and mentally to venture into the world of laser eye surgery. Also, always remember to have a heart-to-heart with your eye doctor before making any decisions.