Other Refractive Procedures
PRK
Photorefractive keratectomy or PRK is a laser eye surgery procedure to correct a person's vision, reducing dependency on glasses or contact lenses. PRK is necessary for certain eye conditions where the cornea is too thin to create a protective flap as in LASIK. PRK does not involve a knife, microkeratome, or cutting laser as used in LASIK, but PRK is a less comfortable procedure than LASIK with a longer healing time. However, the outcomes are virtually identical to LASIK, and PRK is a far better alternative than a lifetime of wearing glasses and contacts.
Refractive Lens Exchange & Presbyopia
Presbyopia is an eye condition caused by too many birthdays. Sometime between age 40 and 50, the typical person will begin to need reading glasses whether they have had LASIK or not. This need for reading glasses can often be greatly reduced through a special LASIK technique known as monovision, which has successfully given thousands of patients the ability to see both close up and far away. Or your doctor may recommend Multifocal IOLs using a surgical procedure called Refractive Lens Exchange. Refractive Lens Exchange is a non-laser corrective procedure in which the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL), designed to allow for clear distance vision (watching children playing in the backyard), near vision (reading), and intermediate vision (computer work). Refractive Lens Exchange is similar to cataract surgery. This procedure is for people with moderate to high degrees of nearsightedness or farsightedness. Refractive Lens Exchange is a permanent and maintenance-free vision correction option with a quick visual recovery time. The outcome of the surgery is predictable; plus, it eliminates the need for future cataract surgery and preserves the central cornea.