Are you nearsighted, farsighted, or do you have astigmatism? If yes, then you must rely on glasses, contacts, or both for clear vision.
But did you know there are alternatives to glasses and contacts? Vision correction surgery can permanently fix your vision.
There’s more than one option available for vision correction procedures. LASIK remains the most popular, but there are others.
Lasik alternatives are great for patients who can’t or don’t want to have LASIK. Each one has different candidacy criteria, and some people are better suited for one procedure over the others.
Keep reading to learn about the vision correction procedures that could end your need for glasses or contacts.
LASIK
LASIK is the most popular vision correction procedure. It is very precise and has excellent outcomes. 96% of patients achieve the results they want and end their need for visual aids.
LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or combinations of these refractive errors. It reshapes your cornea to correct the way light refracts through it.
During the procedure, the surgeon makes a flap in your cornea. Then they use a special laser to reshape it.
They reattach the flap at the end of the procedure. It fuses with the rest of your cornea after a few months. During this time, the flap acts as a bandage and protects your eye as you resume normal activities.
Most people over the age of 21 who are in good health qualify for LASIK, but there are some requirements you must meet. For example, because the procedure cuts and reshapes your cornea, you need to have a thick enough cornea. Corneas that are too thin can make LASIK dangerous.
If you don’t meet the LASIK requirements, there are alternative procedures that are as effective.
PRK
PRK predates LASIK. It was the first successful laser correction procedure, and surgeons still perform it.
PRK, like LASIK, reshapes your cornea. The difference between the two is that PRK does not make a flap in your cornea.
In PRK, the surgeon removes the outer layer of your cornea, called the epithelium. Then they reshape your cornea. You can undergo PRK if your corneas are too thin for LASIK because there is no corneal incision made during PRK.
The recovery time for PRK is longer and can be more uncomfortable because the epithelium needs to regrow. But, the results of PRK are as good as LASIK.
Visian ICL
If you have nearsightedness and would prefer a less invasive procedure than LASIK or PRK, the Visian ICL is an excellent option.
The Visian ICL is an implantable collamer lens that gets inserted into your eye. A collamer lens is a lens made from collagen.
Collagen is a protein found naturally in your body. Since the lens is collagen, your body registers it as a part of your eye, and you can’t feel it.
The Visian ICL can correct a high degree of nearsightedness and slight astigmatism. It doesn’t work well for farsightedness or moderate to significant astigmatism.
Implantation of the Visian ICL is a minimally invasive procedure. The surgeon implants the lens through a small incision made at the base of your cornea. The incision heals naturally and doesn’t require stitches.
An important fact to remember about the Visian ICL implant is that the surgery is reversible. You can choose to remove the lens at any time through another brief procedure.
If you’re nearsighted and looking for a reversible procedure, the Visian ICL is probably best for you. Otherwise, LASIK and PRK are both excellent options, depending on your prescription and corneal thickness.
Schedule an appointment at LASIK Boston in Boston, MA, to determine which vision correction procedure is best for you. Whichever one you choose, you can look forward to having your best eyesight ever!
