Consider the amount of money you’ve spent on prescription glasses, sunglasses and contacts, as well as all the time you’ve spent replacing, cleaning and searching for those glasses and contacts. With a corrective vision procedure, you may not have to think about glasses and contacts ever again.
Today’s advanced technology provides sophisticated, effective and safe options to correct your vision and dramatically improve your quality of life. Options range from laser reshaping of the eye’s surface in procedures such as LASIK to the surgical insertion of artificial lenses, called Refractive lens exchange.
LASIK
A LASIK procedure corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism using advanced laser technology. It is quick, painless and provides immediate results.
During the procedure, a thin flap in the cornea is folded back and a laser is used to reshape your cornea.
The degree of reshaping depends upon the degree of vision correction required. The flap is then repositioned back into place over the reshaped cornea. Numbing drops are applied so there is no pain. LASIK is an outpatient procedure, so you will be able to return home immediately.
The benefits to LASIK surgery are:
• Immediate results – results are noticeable within hours
• No downtime – the procedure takes about 10-15 minutes
• No pain –minimal discomfort may occur after surgery but is usually short-lasting.
• Less dependent upon glasses and contact lenses.
Most people achieve 20/20 vision or better after the surgery, but results may vary. Some people experience continued vision changes as they age, in which case glasses or contacts lenses maybe needed, but at much lower prescription levels than before. Patients may also choose to have an additional LASIK enhancement procedure to adjust for vision changes.
Refractive lens exchange
Refractive lens exchange (RLE) offers a proven and permanent vision correction solution. This procedure replaces your eye’s natural lens with an artificial lens to achieve optimal vision, decreasing your dependency on glasses and contact lenses. The artificial lens is a permanent replacement for your natural lens and will last the rest of your life.
The procedure is almost identical to cataract surgery. The difference is that in RLE, the lens being replaced is clear, rather than a cloudy lens due to a cataract. Refractive lens exchange is a better solution for people interested in not wearing reading glasses. It may also be appropriate for individuals with extreme farsightedness or presbyopia, (loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye) who are generally not good candidates for LASIK surgery.
Quick Facts:
• Procedure time: about 15 minutes per eye
• Typical results: clear vision at all distances
• Recovery time: a few days to several weeks
The type of artificial lens used will depend upon the vision correction your eyes require. FDA-approved options include:
• Monofocal fixed-focus lens – provide clear vision at distance, intermediate or near ranges, but not all three at once. Toric lenses to correct astigmatism also are classified as monofocal IOLs.
• Multifocal lenses – provides clear vision at multiple distances.
• Accommodating lenses – a type of monofocal lens that enables focus at multiple distances by shifting its position in the eye.
With artificial intraocular lenses, there is no “one size fits all.” Your Ophthalmologist will recommend the lens most suitable for your individual needs.
The Procedure
With Refractive Lens Exchange surgery, each eye is done separately, usually about a week apart. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, so you can recover at home. Most people report immediate vision improvement, however final results can take up to several weeks. You should be able to return to driving and work within a week. You may experience blurry vision, halos, glare, or a “scratchy” sensation as your eyes heal. The artificial lenses can’t be felt in the eyes, in the same way that people with dental fillings can’t feel them in their teeth.
A Preventative Treatment
People who are middle-aged or older may have the beginnings of cataracts that eventually could worsen and require cataract surgery. Instead of waiting for the cataracts to progress, patients may choose to have RLE proactively to eliminate the risk of cataract-related vision loss and enjoy clear vision without glasses or contacts lenses sooner.
Learn more
If the hassle of prescription eyeglasses or contacts is starting to bother you, you may be ready for a better solution. To learn more about which vision correction procedure is right for you, schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Richard Adler, a board certified Ophthalmologist and leading authority in vision correction surgery. Dr. Adler will conduct a comprehensive eye exam and create a treatment plan to correct your vision and maintain healthy eyes for a life time.
- Read answers to LASIK FAQ’s
- Learn more about Refractive Lens Exchange at Belcara Health.
- Learn more about LASIK at Belcara Health.
- Learn more about Dr. Richard Adler, Board Certified Surgeon and Ophthalmology Specialist
Call 410.296.0414 or contact us online today!