If you find that glasses and contact lenses aren’t a good fit for your lifestyle, you may want to consider laser eye surgery. Laser vision correction, such as LASIK and PRK, can provide you with the clear, crisp vision you crave, without depending on glasses or contact lenses.
However, just like any elective surgery, deciding whether refractive surgery is right for you is a big decision. To help you make an informed choice, Erie Shores Eyecare offers laser eye surgery consultations.
Do you want to learn more about laser eye surgery? Book your consultation today.
Types of Laser Eye Surgery
Custom LASIK, also called custom wavefront LASIK or wavefront LASIK, is more precise and personalized than conventional LASIK surgery. This procedure uses wavefront technology to evaluate your eyes’ unique characteristics. While the goal of conventional LASIK is to give you the same level of clear vision you currently enjoy with your glasses or contact lenses, custom LASIK uses more detailed information about your eyes to program the laser, giving you clearer and crisper vision than your glasses or contact lenses could provide.
Like conventional LASIK, custom LASIK involves making a small flap in your corneal epithelium and folding it back to reveal your cornea’s inner layers. These inner layers are then reshaped using a laser, and the flap is subsequently repositioned.
Custom PRK is similar to custom LASIK, in that it involves taking more precise measurements of your eyes and using that information to program the laser and give you more personalized results. While conventional PRK aims to give your vision the same level of clarity as your contacts or glasses, custom PRK aims to provide you with even more clarity.
Like conventional PRK, custom PRK involves using a laser to reshape your cornea. First, the epithelium is removed, and then the inner layers of your cornea are reshaped. The epithelium then repairs itself in the days following surgery.
PRK has a longer recovery time than LASIK but offers several advantages. Since there is no flap, there is no risk of flap-related complications. PRK is also a better option than LASIK for patients with thin corneas.
Refractive lens exchange (RLE), also called lens replacement surgery or clear lens extraction, is a form of vision correction surgery that is particularly effective for individuals with presbyopia, high hyperopia (farsightedness), or high myopia (nearsightedness), who may not be good candidates for traditional LASIK or PRK refractive surgeries.
RLE is almost exactly the same procedure as cataract surgery and involves removing your natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens in your prescription, providing you with clear vision.
Corneal collagen crosslinking is a form of corneal strengthening used to treat progressive keratoconus and other degenerative corneal conditions. This procedure creates new links between the collagen fibres in your cornea, giving it increased strength and stability.
During Your Consultation
During your consultation, your optometrist will conduct a series of tests to determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery. Factors such as pupil size, corneal thickness, and your current prescription need to be considered.
If we determine that you are a good candidate for laser vision correction, we’ll discuss the different procedures available, their benefits, and what sort of results you can expect. Your optometrist will also address any questions or concerns you have about the different procedures, and go over the potential risks and complications with you.
Are you considering laser corrective surgery? Book your consultation today.
