LASIK surgery is an option for bespectacled short-sighted golfers looking for convenience and that little edge. While newfound clear vision will not elevate club golfers to PGA standards, it may just shave a stroke or two off their scores.

Think about it: Glasses limit peripheral vision, ever so crucial in precision sports, and windy conditions are not conducive to contact lenses. Lasik also eliminates poorly fitted glasses that could cause misjudgement when reading the greens. That happens when the optical centre of the glasses is not aligned with the optical centre of the eyes, leading to image distortion, said Dr Tony Ho, clinical director and Lasik surgeon at ClearVision Eye Clinic.

Lasik stands for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. Introduced in Singapore in 1996, it has been performed on an estimated 50,000 people here so far. Lasik involves creating a thin flap at the top layer of the cornea, the transparent surface covering the lens. The flap is then folded aside and laser is used to shape parts of the stroma, the middle layer of the cornea, to focus light. After that, the flap is allowed to fuse back naturally.

A satisfied Lasik patient is Tiger Woods. He told US magazine Golf Digest, following the surgery, that both holes and balls look bigger. Related or not, he went on to win the first five tour events he played thereafter.

Dr Ho explains the phenomenon: “High-powered myopic visual aids like glasses and contact lens make objects appear further away. Lasik is definitely good news for sportsmen but it carries risks and is not for everyone. So consult a reputable surgeon.”

Lasik does not require hospitalisation and recovery time is quick. Patients are usually able to resume work within a week. But don’t rush to tee off and expect an improvement on the greens immediately. Some patients may experience mild side effects such as dry eyes or night glare and halos. These side effects are, however, temporary for the majority of patients.

Lasik patient Janice Wong was distressed when she first experienced halos around traffic lights while driving at night. The effect diminished over the months and the 36-handicapper is now back to driving – both on the roads and the fairways.

Ms Wong, an ex-journalist and author of bestseller Single Picky Girl, most appreciates the convenience that Lasik brings whenever she has a morning game.

“Waking up at the crack of dawn is tough enough without having to scrupulously clean and wear contact lenses. I don’t like to wear glasses because they tend to slip when my face gets sweaty. And, of course, because I am vain.” she adds with a giggle.