Happy 2012!  I hope you enjoy this issue.  Feel free to let us know if you have any ideas of what you would like to see in future newsletters!

 

I get asked quite frequently about refractive surgery.  It can be a great option to correct one's vision when done on the right patients with the appropriate techniques.

The best candidates are patients between the ages of eighteen and fifty with a stable prescription that is not too strong and not too weak.  I am going to discuss three different refractive surgery procedures currently available.

The most common is LASIK.  Traditionally, a blade will cut a flap in the cornea, the laser is applied and the flap is replaced.  A newer procedure called IntraLase is available where a laser actually cuts the flap instead of a blade.  This version of LASIK affects a smaller tissue area and has less risk of dryness after surgery.  The good thing about LASIK is that it provides instant gratification with good vision and comfort right away.  The downside is that it often will make a dry eye drier and there is always a possibility of complications with the flap down the line.

Another option similar to LASIK is PRK.  With this procedure, the top layer of the cornea is removed, the laser is applied, and the cornea is allowed to grow back that top layer.  The advantage to PRK is that since there is no flap cut, there is no risk of flap complications.  There is also less risk of dryness after PRK compared to traditional LASIK.  The disadvantages of PRK is that it is not instant gratification.  There is discomfort for approximately one week, and it can take two to six months before the vision is optimal.

The third option is an Implantable Collamer Lens or and ICL.  This is where a lens is implanted into the eye similar to lens implantation after cataract surgery but without removing the natural lens.