Have you been debating if you should get corrective laser vision surgery? Are you aware that there are many types of corrective laser vision surgeries?
Making the decision that you want to improve your vision with laser vision surgery is a big step. Getting your vision corrected will improve your life forever.
Laser eye or vision correction surgery is any procedure that uses a laser to fix any vision issues. Thousands of lives have been improved due to technological advancements.
Most types of vision correction procedures involve reshaping the cornea, but there are other options. Keep reading to learn about some of the laser vision correction procedures available!
LASIK
This is the most common type of laser eye surgery. LASIK is an excellent option for adults who are 18 and older. You also need to have a refractive error like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
During the procedure, your surgeon creates a flap in the outer layer of your cornea and uses a laser to reshape it. Reshaping the cornea corrects these refractive errors and provides clear vision. LASIK is a unique procedure because of flap creation.
Other types of LASIK include:
LASEK: a very thin flap is created in the outermost part of the eye and floats away due to the use of alcohol. Afterward, a laser reshapes the cornea.
Epi-LASIK: is like LASEK, but a special tool is used to remove the flap.
Refractive Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
This procedure uses a laser for specific steps in cataract surgery that are usually done using hand-held surgical tools.
PRK
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is another type of laser surgery. PRK is a lot like LASIK except there is no flap created.
Instead, the epithelial layer is completely removed and discarded. PRK is usually better for patients who may not qualify for LASIK because of thin corneas or large pupils.
PRELEX
PRELEX (presbyopic lens exchange) is a specific surgery for treating presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs when your eye’s lens becomes less flexible. During the surgery, your surgeon will remove and replace your lens with a multifocal lens.
RLE
RLE (refractive lens exchange) is a procedure that removes the natural lens. It is the same thing as cataract surgery in this regard.
During the procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision near your cornea. After creating the incision, they remove the natural lens and replace it with an artificial one.
Patients with extreme farsightedness or nearsightedness are good candidates for this procedure. Also, RLE is a great option for patients who have thin corneas, dry eyes, and other cornea problems. RLE can be done with LASIK or a similar procedure to correct astigmatism.
The artificial lens the doctor uses is called an intraocular lens (IOL). IOLs can help correct nearsighted and farsighted vision.
Depending on your needs and lifestyle, there are different kinds of IOLs available. The most basic kind of IOL is a monofocal IOL. Monofocal IOLs only provide one distance for focusing.
Premium IOL options include accommodating IOLs or multifocal IOLs. If you have astigmatism, you may want a toric IOL. Toric IOLs are the only IOL specifically designed for people with astigmatism.
There are so many options for laser vision surgery, so talk to your doctor about their recommendations. Schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY today!
