News

20262025202420232022

LASIK and Sports: Why Athletes Choose Vision Correction

Friday, September 4, 2026

You’re lining up your tee shot, but you can’t get a clear view of the ball through your glasses. Or your contact lenses make your eyes feel like cement.

Comfort, convenience, and performance are a few reasons why people living an active lifestyle tend to choose LASIK surgery. The biggest difference? They don’t have to rely on glasses or contact lenses.

Dr. Scott MacRae and Dr. Daniel Savage, who specialize in advanced vision correction care at the University of Rochester Medicine Flaum Eye Institute, see many reasons for the choice.

Why Do Athletes Choose LASIK?

For athletes and physically active people, LASIK can provide a sense of freedom, convenience, and independence during everyday activities.

That can mean:

• More freedom during sports and exercise: No need to manage glasses or contacts while on the move.
• Fewer distractions: Less worry about glasses slipping, fogging up, or falling off during activities.
• Less hassle on the water: LASIK can make swimming, boating, and other water activities easier.
• Simpler travel: Less to pack, less to forget.
• Clear vision without lenses

Ruchira Singh Finds Early Cause of Vision Loss in Batten Disease

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Researchers have developed a new way to study CLN3-Batten disease, a rare, inherited condition that causes early vision loss in children followed by progressive neurological decline. Their findings offer new insight into how the disease begins and point to a promising path for treatment.

Vision loss is often the first and most life-altering symptom for children with the disease, affecting their ability to read, learn, and navigate the world independently, often years before other neurological symptoms appear.

Studying CLN3-Batten disease has been challenging because the earliest damage occurs deep within the retina, a part of the eye that is difficult for researchers to access. To overcome this, researchers at University of Rochester Medicine have created a 3D human stem cell-derived retina model that closely mimics how key parts of the eye work together, specifically, the interaction between light-sensing photoreceptors and support cells called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

“Although molecular and cellular changes associated with the disease have been shown in other models, this retina model captures the earliest and most consistent pathology seen in patients, including photoreceptor outer segment loss and degeneration,” said Ruchira Singh, PhD, an associate professor in the URochester Medicine Flaum Eye Institute, and lead author of the study, which appears in Science Translational Medicine.

When Should I Get LASIK? Age, Eligibility, and Recovery Explained

Thursday, April 9, 2026

If you’ve been thinking about ditching your glasses or contacts, you might be wondering: Is now a good time for LASIK surgery? Is there a “best age?" Should you wait until your prescription stops changing?

In the United States, over 700,000 LASIK eye surgeries are performed every year, and timing does matter. But the right time for LASIK depends less on your age and more on your eye health and vision stability, says Scott MacRae, MD, LASIK eye surgeon with University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute and an international authority on LASIK. Here’s what Dr. MacRae says to consider before scheduling laser vision correction.

Is There a “Best Age” for LASIK? 

Many people assume there’s a perfect age for LASIK surgery. But age alone is rarely the deciding factor. Generally, candidates must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Have had a stable vision prescription for one to two years

• Not be pregnant at the time of surgery

The best time to get LASIK surgery is when your vision is stable and when you’re ready.

Common LASIK Misconceptions

• “I’m too young.” Some people’s prescription stabilizes at a younger age.

• “I’m too old.” If you’re in good overall and ocular health, LASIK can be performed at most ages, even in patients with conditions like well-controlled glaucoma.

• “I’m not healthy enough.” Patients can be eligible despite chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, well-controlled diabetes, and other conditions.