These Lasik Alternatives Can Effectively Restore Vision To Patients

Since the advent of refractive eye surgery, people with poor vision have been presented with another more aesthetically appealing solution to the burden of wearing glasses or contacts. However, what many eye patients are unaware of is the fact that there are Lasik alternatives which offer the same results using another approach. People who are considering refractive surgery should first consult an eye surgeon who doesn't favor any one technique, in order to determine which procedure is most appropriate.

Developed earlier than Lasik, is a procedure known as Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK. Both methods use an excimer laser to sculpt the patient's cornea, but instead of cutting a flap in the cornea, which is the riskiest part of Lasik surgery, surface ablation is carried out on the upper epithelial layer using a microkeratome.

Improvements to this technique such as cooling the cornea prior to or following surgery, have been made to further minimize post-operative discomfort. Follow-up care typically involves the use of topical anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications and oral analgesics. A protective contact lens is worn over the eye to promote healing and regrowth of the corneal epithelium. Most patients will experience improved vision as early as one day after the procedure.

The Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis or LASEK procedure involves the creation of a flap in the epithelial layer of the cornea, using a trephine, which is a microsurgical instrument, and then loosening the cells with an alcohol solution. The flap is moved aside as the surgeon reshapes the cornea, then replaced. As with PRK, a “bandage” contact lens is worn to protect the eye. Healing of the epithelium usually takes about four days.

EpiLasik is a procedure in which a thin sheet of epithelial tissue is actually lifted from the surface of the eye using an “Epi-keratome” device. After laser re-sculpting, the surgeon will either replace the thin sheet of epithelium which was removed, or it may be simply left to regenerate a new layer of cells. Healing time and follow-up care measures are the same as with the PRK and LASEK techniques.

People who are over the age of 40 and farsighted, that is they have difficulty with near focus, may qualify for a procedure known as Conductive Keratoplasty or CK. Small probes which emit radio frequency energy are used to heat up the outer cornea causing it to tighten, which increases the curve in the central portion of the cornea, improving the eye's focus. Generally, only the less dominant eye will undergo this procedure, as to keep the stronger eye functioning optimally for long-distance vision.

Patients with multiple refractive functioning errors, can sometimes not be helped by corneal surgery. In this case, the eye surgeon may opt to insert IOLs or Phakic Intraocular Lenses. These are essentially contact lenses which are implanted into the eye, in front of the natural lens and either behind of in front of the iris. They merely assist the existing lenses in their ability to direct light rays onto the retinas.

Often performed as an alternative to cataract removal surgery, Refractive Lens Exchange, or RLE, involves the actual removal of the eye's natural lens and replacement with an artificial one. Patients who already suffer from cataracts and also have vision problems are good candidates for this type of surgery. Those who struggle with extreme farsightedness may also be eligible for lens replacement.

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