Laser surgery to correct near-sightedness seems to me like an incredible service -- a service almost every glasses wearing person should be thrilled to use.  Glasses are frustrating to wear, disabling, often unattractive, and in many cases, more expensive than laser surgery! It would be so freeing and wonderful to put them away forever! But most people I've known to wear glasses for a long time have continued to wear them.  If asked why, they seem to reply with an insincere and faulty rationalisation. The easiest such rationalisations are

1) The risk
2) The expense
and perhaps
3) Appearance isn't important

The risk, from what I know, is similar to crossing a street; so it's negligable -- it's comparable to something most people do every day that would cost them their lives if unlucky.  Losing your vision would be a high price, but no higher than getting hit by an automobile at high speed.

The expense is comparable to a set of nice glasses with lenses.  In the end, it's probably less expensive to get laser surgery than to live your whole life with glasses.  So in fact, laser surgery could be money saving.  Understandably, some people will not have 250 pounds or $500 easily accessible, but it's usually possible to save up this amount of money.

And besides the fact laser surgery does a lot more than help with appearance, appearance is usually pretty damn important to people.  Most people who make the argument that appearance isn't important will wear contacts on special occasions, or go out of their way to buy nice clothes, and dress in a very particular manner. 

So if these aren't the reasons -- they are just quick rationalisations -- what are the honest reasons people aren't getting this surgery? Are they all paranoiacs afraid to make any significant change in their lives?  Do they wish to continue walking with a crutch their whole lives because they have become used to it? Do they feel their identity is closely tied to being a glasses wearer?

What's the reason?

_{<Mod Edit - Formatted the subject as a question - Please do this to help keep the forum tidy and easier to navigate, thanks!>}