What was Tiger Woods unable to wear glasses?

Question

In a radio commercial for laser vision surgery, Tiger Woods says that he had to wear contacts to play golf, that the contacts made his eyes water or red or something, that this distracting him from the shot that he was trying to make, and that only surgery would allow him to play golf without the distraction of contacts.

Why would eyeglasses not also be a (faster) option for him?

Answer 1

I wear glasses but don't play golf but I have never really been affected by the rims of my glases. Personally, I think he would have been better off wearing contacts but since he apparently was unable to, this probably was the better option for him. However, prescriptions rarely stay the same over a person's lifetime so he will likely have to get this procedure done again at some point in the future.

Answer 2

The rims of the glasses and edges of glasses can limit your peripheral vision.  So it may have been that reason why he wasn't able to wear glasses. When you have a disposable income why not go with an option that allows you to not be uncomfortable.

Answer 3

Not only do eyeglasses box vision in and cut off peripheral, but they warp it as well, throwing off distance and angle judgement. I'm sure he tried in practice and found that it threw his game way off. Contacts follow the eyes and keep vision fairly stable and consistent. Lasik is etching your prescription onto your eyeball so it follows the eyeballs precisely. Glasses only give consistent vision if you stare exactly through the center.