One of the best things I have done for myself is LASIK.
I'm genuinely curious what specifically is so much better.
Only speaking for myself Beric01, but for me glasses weren't so much impractical (I can see how you can get around most things) but they were uncomfortable. I tried many different frames. I found ones with those little feet that sit on your nose and make indents very uncomfortable. Extra light (read: extra expensive) frameless ones were better. All plastic ones were the most comfortable. But when I wanted to lay on my side with my head on a pillow and watch TV, I couldn't. Actually impossible to do that because my glasses would take the weight of my head and push it against the bridge of my nose.
It may seem inconsequential to some, but since you genuinely asked, that's the reason I had surgery. I found glasses damn uncomfortable. I'd compare it to a bra, just always aware it's there. I didn't tolerate contacts well enough to wear them for extended lengths of time.
Onto my surgery experience, I was advised against LASIK because apparently I have a tiny hole in 1 retina (doesn't affect my vision), and LASIK changes the pressure in the eye, which, combined with this hole, put me at a much increased risk of retinal detachement (still less than 1%, but too high for me). I was recommended LASEK instead, which is a similar procedure, but instead of making a flap they lift, they scraped away enough cells to laser straight through. Then the cells regrow.
This was apparently a safer procedure (according to my doctor) because it didn't involve the pressure change, and the lack of flap reduced the risk of infection. The downside is the pain. Scratching so many cells off your eye hurts as much as it sounds. Obviously I had full anaestic during - I didn't feel a thing on my eyeball (although the clip holding my eyelids open was painful).
Afterwards it was seriously so much pain. I've had gallstones (which I think ranks pretty high on the pain scale, and yeah, wow, I thought I was dying that time), and I can honestly say this pain was worse. It also lasted a long time. Probably a whole week of constant pain. Then pain most of the time, then just in the morning. I had a hideous stabbing pain (caused by dry eyes I think) on waking, every day for probably two years. My surgery was nearly 5 years ago, I still get the occasional morning stab (once every couple of months).
I said after the surgery if I knew how painful it was, I wouldn't have done it.
However, the amazing this about the human mind is that it does not 'remember' pain. You know how you can think back to a happy time and get a flood of happiness? You can't think back to pain and recreate it (under normal circumstances. PTSD etc obviosuly is something else). This lack of pain memory is apparently why people have more than one child, and it can be the only reason I occasionally think visiting a night club is a good idea.
Now that I can't remember the actual pain, only that it was very painful, I honestly think this was one of the best 'things' I ever purchased. Being able to see the clock in the morning is amazing! Although wow, I never realised how many cobwebs there were in my bathroom, or how dirty the grout was, since I never wore vision correction in the shower before!
I did a lot of research. I could have got it done at half the price at the mall. I called them and asked what would happen if I had a problem and they were closed. They said they would refer me to the local (NHS, I'm in the UK) specialist eye hospital. I looked the hospital up, and they had a private wing that does the surgery for a profit, will all profits being reinvested in the NHS eye service. I felt good about this - money going into the NHS and excellent doctors who I might have been referred to anyway. Cannot say enough good things about it, and if anyone in the UK would like the details, PM me.
TLDR - wasn't suitable for LASIK, had LASEK (allegedly 'safer'). It hurt like hell. I would do it again though. Do a lot of research.