If you are considering refractive surgery, you may wonder if a procedure like LASIK, refractive lens exchange, PRK, or EVO ICL is right for you. These different surgeries can correct a wide range of refractive errors and suit different lifestyles and needs.
But which procedure is right for you? Keep reading to learn more about who makes a good candidate for refractive surgery.
What is Refractive Surgery?
Refractive surgery is the name for a group of eye procedures that can correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. These surgeries can give you clearer vision and reduce your reliance on visual aids like glasses and contacts.
Determining if you’re a good candidate for vision correction depends on the type of procedure you choose. You can learn about the vision correction procedures offered at Whitson Vision when you schedule a refractive surgery consultation.
During this appointment, your eye doctor will discuss your vision correction goals, and you can share information about how you want your vision to function with your job and lifestyle. We will also thoroughly examine your eyes, check your prescription, and discuss your medical history.
This information will help us recommend the best procedure for you. Whitson Vision provides many different refractive surgical procedures to treat a wide range of needs.
These include:
LASIK
LASIK is perhaps the best-known vision correction procedure and can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. During LASIK, your eye doctor creates a flap in the surface of the cornea and reshapes the tissue underneath with specialized lasers to improve your vision.
Most patients are able to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses or contacts after having LASIK and enjoy clear vision for decades. A good candidate for LASIK:
- Is at least 18 years old with a stable prescription
- Is nearsighted, farsighted or has astigmatism
- Has no history of cataracts or glaucoma
- Does not have any autoimmune conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- Does not have severe dry eye
- Is not pregnant or nursing
- Has corneas that are thick enough for the procedure
- Has realistic expectations and understands the limitations and risks of the procedure
PRK
PRK is a similar procedure to LASIK, but the technique has one significant difference. During LASIK, your eye surgeon creates a flap in the tissue on the surface of the eye to reach the cornea and closes it when the procedure is over.
During PRK, your eye doctor simply removes the thin surface layer of the cornea to access and reshape the corneal tissue. Then, they place a bandage contact lens over your eye to protect the eye while the tissue grows back, usually in less than one week.
This difference makes PRK a good choice for people with corneal tissue that may be too thin for the flap technique used in LASIK. It is also a preferred procedure for people who play contact sports and have a higher risk of injury to the corneal flap, as well as patients with mild forms of dry eye, as it affects fewer corneal nerves.
The candidacy requirements for LASIK and PRK are mostly the same, but patients with thinner corneas and mild to moderate dry eye may be able to safely undergo PRK.
EVO ICL
The EVO ICL procedure involves placing an implantable collamer lens (ICL) in the eye to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. The EVO ICL is a thin, pliable lens made from a biocompatible material. It has the added benefit of being able to correct higher levels of nearsightedness than LASIK can safely treat.
It has a corrective prescription like contact lenses or glasses, but it’s surgically implanted inside your eye. The ICL is placed between your iris and the natural lens of the eye to improve how light is focused on the retina, correcting your refractive errors.
The EVO ICL is the only type of vision correction procedure that is reversible. The ICL can be removed if needed, such as if you need cataract surgery in the future.
This makes it an excellent choice for patients who are unsure if they want to commit to permanent vision correction or want more peace of mind going into their procedure. Since there is no flap made in the cornea, similar to PRK, it is safer for patients with thin corneas and dry eye who aren’t good LASIK candidates.
Candidacy requirements for the EVO ICL are similar to those for LASIK and PRK, but there are a few key differences. EVO ICL patients should:
- Be between the ages of 21-45
- Have moderate to severe nearsightedness and/or mild astigmatism
- Cannot have cataracts
- Not be farsighted
- No history of iritis or glaucoma
Refractive Lens Exchange
LASIK and PRK are both procedures that improve visual acuity by adjusting the shape of the cornea. Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is a procedure that addresses vision issues by replacing the natural lens of the eye with an intraocular lens (IOL).
RLE can be a good choice for people who are outside the ideal age range for LASIK, PRK, and EVO ICL, have early cataracts, or have presbyopia. It is often the best choice for those who are farsighted. A good candidate for RLE:
- Is over the age of 40
- Has nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia
- Has early cataracts
- Is in good health
- Does not have a history of eye conditions like iritis or glaucoma
- Is not pregnant or nursing
What are the Benefits of Refractive Surgery?
Whether you choose LASIK, PRK, refractive lens exchange, or the EVO ICL, you’ll likely enjoy benefits including:
Reduced Reliance on Visual Aids
Most refractive surgery patients can reduce or eliminate their need for glasses and contacts after their procedure. This means no more hassling with smudged glasses or fishing contact lenses out of your eyes.
Instead, you can enjoy all your favorite activities with improved clarity, and usually without visual aids.
Clearer Vision
Many patients experience clearer vision than they ever had before their refractive surgery. This is because these procedures involve a high level of precision when correcting your refractive errors and can be personalized to meet your visual needs.
Long-Lasting Vision Correction
Refractive procedures permanently correct your refractive errors, meaning they won’t wear off. Most refractive surgery patients enjoy clear vision for decades or longer.
If you choose refractive lens exchange, you can even prevent future vision changes from cataracts, as they cannot grow on an IOL. However, these procedures cannot prevent vision loss from unrelated conditions like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Are you ready to learn more about achieving high-definition vision with refractive surgery? Schedule an appointment at Whitson Vision in Avon or Indianapolis, IN, today!