LASIK

Photorefractive Keratectomy provides an excellent alternative when LASIK isn’t suitable due to thinner corneas or certain corneal irregularities. Unlike LASIK, this surface ablation approach removes the thin outer epithelial layer rather than creating a flap, allowing the excimer laser to directly reshape the corneal surface. While visual recovery takes several weeks to a few months compared to LASIK’s rapid results, the long-term outcomes are comparable, and PRK may be the safer option for patients with specific corneal characteristics or those in professions where eye trauma is a concern.

The Implantable Collamer Lens offers a completely different approach for individuals with high prescriptions or thin corneas who aren’t suitable candidates for laser-based procedures. Rather than reshaping your cornea, this procedure involves the permanent implantation of a biocompatible lens inside your eye, positioned between the iris and natural lens. The Collamer material is soft, flexible, and highly compatible with your eye’s natural environment, offering UV protection while remaining reversible if your vision needs change, making it an attractive option for younger patients with severe myopia.

Custom Lens Replacement works differently from the other procedures by replacing your natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens, similar to cataract surgery, but performed for vision correction. This procedure is particularly beneficial for individuals over 40 experiencing presbyopia or those with high degrees of refractive error that exceed the safe treatment range for laser procedures. By addressing refractive errors while simultaneously preventing future cataract development, this approach provides a comprehensive solution that can correct both distance and near vision depending on the type of intraocular lens selected.

LASIK eye surgery is a laser-based procedure that corrects refractive errors by reshaping the cornea to improve how light focuses on your retina. During the procedure, a thin flap is created in the outer layers of your cornea, folded back, and an excimer laser precisely removes microscopic amounts of tissue to achieve the desired correction. The flap is then repositioned and naturally adheres without stitches, allowing for rapid healing and quick visual recovery.

LASIK provides permanent correction of your refractive error at the time of surgery, with most patients experiencing stable vision for many years or decades. However, your eyes naturally continue aging after the procedure, which means you may develop presbyopia around age 40-45, requiring reading glasses for close-up tasks. Additionally, some patients may experience minor vision changes over time unrelated to the LASIK procedure itself, though the vast majority maintain excellent distance vision long-term.

LASIK is considered a very safe procedure with a strong track record spanning decades and millions of successful treatments worldwide. While all surgical procedures carry some risk, serious complications are rare when performed by experienced surgeons using modern technology and proper patient screening. The most common side effects include temporary dryness and seeing halos around lights at night, which typically diminish over several weeks or months as your eyes heal.

Yes, LASIK effectively corrects astigmatism along with nearsightedness and farsightedness by reshaping the cornea into a more regular, spherical shape. The excimer laser is programmed with precise measurements of your astigmatism, allowing it to remove tissue in a customized pattern that addresses both the irregular curvature and other refractive errors simultaneously. Most patients with astigmatism achieve significant improvement and often eliminate their need for corrective lenses after the procedure.

LASIK itself is not painful because numbing eye drops are applied before the procedure begins, preventing you from feeling any discomfort during the treatment. Some patients experience slight pressure when the instrument is placed on the eye to keep it stable, but this sensation is temporary and brief. After the procedure, your eyes may feel scratchy or irritated for several hours, though this discomfort is typically mild and manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol if needed.