Lasik Indicator: Eye Surgeries Slow With Economy

Call it the Lasik indicator. With the weak economy forcing consumers to cut back on discretionary spending, the number of laser vision-correction surgeries has been falling -- as it did during the last recession.

More than 800,000 Americans underwent Lasik surgery in 2007, a slight increase from 2006. But the numbers started slumping along with the economy in the second half of last year. And industry analysts are now predicting a Lasik recession.

"We're forecasting a 17 percent drop for 2008," said David Harmon, president of Market Scope, an eye surgery market research house.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[SusanRen]

Whats wrong with wearing glasses? Once your distance vision is fixed don't you have to wear reading glasses?

[outnow]

My eye doctor was happy to get me in right away, last week. He does a fancy laser thing that is $2,500 per eye. Things are slowing down. I saw my realtor in the office. He had a good year last year but doesn't expect much this year. Maybe he can broker rice futures.

[GreedyOldPsychopaths]

"I Can See Clearly Now", our economic future looks ugly.