Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the highest-ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, is one of those quintessential policy wonks. If the conversation doesn't have anything to do with numbers, he's not one to chitchat.

Unless he takes notice that you're not wearing glasses and when you explain that you're wearing contacts wonders why you haven't gotten Lasik.

"You should get Lasik," Ryan told the Sleuth.

He did, back in 2000, when the corrective vision surgery cost him $2,000 an eye. Now it would only cost about $800 an eye, Ryan said, continuing his unsolicited pitch.

"They've revolutionized this Excimer Laser three times since then, making it better and yet it is less than half as expensive. Who said health care can't function like a private market?"

It worked for him. Ryan wakes up each morning with 20/20 vision and doesn't have to fumble around looking for his glasses.

His parting words rang out like a dire warning: "Go do it -- get Lasik." As it says in the Old Testament: where there is no vision, the people perish.

By Mary Ann Akers  |  November 7, 2007; 10:20 AM ET
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