Don’t lose hope in correcting your vision. Check out some of these other options, if you’re not a candidate for LASIK.
PRK (Photo-refractive keratectomy)
PRK removes the surface (epithelial) cells of the cornea and then an excimer laser sculpts the cornea. Unlike LASIK, there is no “flap”.
After your treatment, we place a bandage contact lens on your eye and remove it approximately 1 week later. This procedure corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It is often used when the cornea is too thin for LASIK.
Please be aware, the initial recovery time is longer than it is with LASIK and it may take 3-6 months for optimal vision.
Refractive Lens Exchange
If you’re not a good candidate for the above procedures, our surgeons will consider a Refractive Lens Exchange (or RLE). This is the same type of procedure as cataract surgery, where we remove the natural lens of the eye and implant an artificial lens. This lens is called an intraocular lens (IOL).
As with the Phakic Lens, there is a little more risk involved with a surgery inside your eyes. The recovery is a little longer than LASIK and only one eye may be done at a time to make it safe for you.
There are a lot of advantages of an RLE over LASIK! You get to choose from a wide variety of lenses, including options that can eliminate reading glasses. No matter what your prescription is, we can do an RLE. And since we remove the natural lens of the eye, you’ll never need cataract surgery in the future.
Call us at (608) 827 – 7705 to find out which is the right choice for you!