- How your cornea responds to laser ablation is better understood.
The amount of correction required is smaller and less likely to regress.
You know what to expect.
Regression back toward myopia (nearsighted, shortsighted) vision explains why your vision is so bad and why your friend's glasses improved things so well. You may experience additional changes in refractive error between now and the time to make a decision about enhancement surgery. Those glasses will make a big difference for you.
If you are at or past age 40, you may not want to have both eyes fully corrected. Read about monovision before making this decision.
Thanks for the kind words, but I'm only repeating what has been learned by knowledgeable individuals.