Follow a Northern Michigan doctor and patient through the elective procedure.

I've worn glasses or contacts since fourth grade. Without them, I wouldn't be able to read the news. I'm used to it by now, and I've got my routine down. But others in my shoes have decided they've had enough and sought out LASIK surgery.

About 700,000 people a year undergo the elective procedure. Grand Traverse Ophthalmology Clinic has been performing LASIK for the past decade. I met with a doctor and patient there, and sat in on a surgery, to learn more about how it works.

"That's where it all starts, a good screening," says Dr. Matthew Madion, an ophthalmologist with GTOC.

Dr. Madion says there are both good and bad candidates for LASIK. The good are usually 21 or older, most are near-sighted, they don't have eye disease or eye problems, and don't expect better vision than what they get with their corrective lenses.

"I think for me, the number one piece of advice I would give someone is to understand what your expectations are," says Madion. "What do you want out of this surgery, and then can the surgery, can the clinic provide that?"

Alan Campbell, 52, will tell you he had a lot of reservations about LASIK. It took him a long time to decide he wanted, and was ready for, the surgery.

"I would say wait until you're comfortable," says Campbell. "I think that for a lot of people, especially younger people, I think they consider it more of a cosmetic than a medical procedure. It's a medical procedure, not something to be taken lightly."

Al took the time to talk to his doctor about all the pros and cons, and made sure it was right for him. Insurance usually does not cover the procedure, which costs $2,000 per eye. Al came in on a Friday afternoon, so he would have the weekend to recover. Recovery that takes just a few days. The procedure takes about 20 minutes, with both eyes done during one visit.

After lying down, numbing drops were put in Al's eye, and Dr. Madion used a special instrument to keep his eye open. A thin flap was cut in the cornea, and then Al focused on a red light. A laser re-shaped his cornea.

"The neat thing about the LASIK is that over the last 10 years, as the computer technology has evolved, so has the LASIK technology," says Madion. "So we're in a situation where we can map your eye ahead of time, and get a custom map of your eye. We use a computer algorithm and reshape the cornea specific to you, to give you the best visual result."

Then the flap was put back in place, and all the steps were repeated on the other eye. Afterward, plastic shields were put over Al's eyes to protect them. It was time for Al to go home and go to bed. Al will still need glasses to read, but he'll be able to toss the bifocals.

"I like outdoor sports. I like to fish, I like to hunt. I have problems at nighttime tying a tiny little fly at twilight onto a line," Al says. "Maybe this will help."

I got an e-mail from Al a few days after the surgery. He says he was in a lot of pain for the first few hours, but felt a lot better the next day. He says he can see very well at a distance, and is glad he went thought with it.

The FDA did have a hearing last spring about people who suffered serious complications after LASIK. They found about 5% of patients were dissatisfied with the procedure. Dr. Madion says permanently blurred vision and loss of vision are possible side effects, but are rare. That's why it is important to meet with a doctor you trust to make sure you are a good candidate.