LASIK Alternatives
There are several different LASIK options that we offer at our center.
The 2 main options that we offer are listed as follows:
Surface Laser Procedure – PRK
We explain to patients that in LASIK, there are 2 lasers used. PRK is like LASIK, except only 1 laser out of the 2 LASIK lasers is used.
PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy) is a surface laser ablation procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea by reshaping it with the excimer laser.
The removal of thin layers of tissue causes the center of the cornea to flatten in the case of nearsightedness, steepen in the case of farsightedness, or become more rounded in the case of astigmatism thereby resulting in the desired/targeted changes to the focusing power of the cornea.
Refractive Lens Exchange – RLE
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), also known as a clear lens replacement, is a procedure designed to reduce a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is an eye procedure designed to remove the natural crystalline lens of the eye and replace it with an artificial lens, known as an intra-ocular lens implant to correct refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia) or a focusing error of the eye.
It is an alternative to laser vision correction and other vision correction procedures. The procedure is identical to that used to remove a cataract.
