I got tired of my normal spectacles so I went to the optician for a contact lens exam in early April. It turns out I have astigmatism in my right eye and the special contact lens I was prescribed to correct it is imperfect. I can see at distance with nearly no problems but things that are close to me are completely fuzzy in that eye. I'm hopeful that a follow-up fitting will help.
As for the discomfort, it took me a good 20 minutes to get my contacts in when I was still getting used to poking myself in the eye. Now I get them in and out on the first try every time. I guess I just had to learn to trust that I wasn't going to gouge out my own eyeballs.
Everyone I know who's had laser surgery has been very happy with the results. Cost-wise, I think I'd rather pay $4,000 once for the procedure than have to spend a few hundred dollars every year on new lenses, disinfectant kits, and updated prescriptions. Too bad I don't have any vision insurance.