First, the basics. Corrective eye surgery has been around for quite some time. This achieves the same effect as the RK surgery, but without the risks of scar tissue, weakening of the cornea, etc. What they do different is that they cut a tiny bit of your eye, pull the flap back, and they do the same laser correction as PRK, but they do it from the inside rather than on the cornea's surface. Before I get into the details of each procedure, I'll tell you my situation.
Contacts also seem like quite a hassle.
I can get by without glasses, but my eyesight is bad enough that I don't want to. I also have astigmatism, which means that my cornea isn't perfectly round. Laser vision correction can correct both conditions. I would never have blade eye surgery done, I don't care how safe it is. This will happen whether or not I have my vision corrected with laser surgery now.