Are LASIK Alternatives as Good As LASIK?
Although LASIK is the most well-known, there are many types of refractive procedures that can provide you with visual freedom and reduced dependency on visual aids. If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, your eye doctor may recommend an alternative procedure to help accomplish your vision goals.
Keep reading to learn more about LASIK alternatives and if they are as good as LASIK!
Reasons for LASIK Alternatives
Certain people may not have a good outcome with LASIK if they do not qualify as a candidate for the procedure. This is often due to the unique characteristics of their eye.
For example, if you have thin corneas, you may not be a good candidate for LASIK. The goal of every refractive procedure is to give you sharp, clear vision and freedom from glasses and contacts.
What is LASIK?
LASIK surgery uses the excimer laser to reshape the cornea. During LASIK, the LASIK surgeon cuts a thin flap in the cornea’s surface and reshapes the inner layer to correct vision problems.
After the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is repositioned and will heal on its own after a short time. A good LASIK candidate should have thick enough corneas so that the LASIK surgeon can create a flap, which is necessary for the procedure.
For patients with thin corneas, LASIK is not recommended.
Three LASIK Alternatives
At Berg Feinfeld Vision Correction, the eye surgeons offer three refractive surgical procedures that are very effective alternatives to LASIK if you’re not a good candidate. These procedures will give you similar results and are better suited to the unique qualities of your eyes.
What is PRK?
The PRK procedure is similar to LASIK, except it doesn’t require the creation of a flap in the cornea. Instead, your eye surgeon will remove the epithelium, the outer layer of the cornea, which regenerates during recovery.
PRK produces almost identical results to LASIK. Those who have PRK should expect a recovery period of five to seven days with mild discomfort.
It will also take the same amount of time to regain natural vision and see clearly.
What is LASEK?
LASEK is a procedure that combines the best outcomes of both LASIK and PRK. During LASEK, a pre-incision is made in the top layer of the cornea, and a mild alcohol solution is used to loosen the cells of the epithelium.
This makes lifting the outer layer flap easier. Then the laser is applied to the specific area of the cornea, which is reshaped to correct vision problems.
When the flap is replaced, it’s protected by a soft contact lens which acts like a bandaid for your cornea. It is designed to improve the healing process.
Recovery is faster with LASEK than with PRK and should take only about two to three days to get back to most of your everyday activities. There will be slightly more discomfort with LASEK than LASIK but less time than PRK.
What is the EVO Visian ICL?
If you have a high degree of myopia and you’ve wanted LASIK surgery but are not a good candidate, EVO Visian ICL is a newer procedure that can give you the same visual freedom. And if you’ve ever been nervous about undergoing surgery with permanent results, EVO Visian ICL is reversible.
It treats nearsightedness and astigmatism with a lens implant that changes the focus of the light entering the eye. The result is vision correction so that you no longer need glasses or contacts for distant vision.
The EVO Visian ICL is ideal for patients who aren’t good candidates for LASIK either due to thin corneas, extreme nearsightedness, or dry eye. The results with EVO Visian ICL are excellent and comparable to LASIK.
Are you interested in learning which refractive procedure may be right for you? Schedule an appointment at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA, today!
