LASIK is a popular refractive surgery designed to help individuals achieve clear, sharp vision. Many patients find that after the procedure, they no longer need glasses or contact lenses, or only require them for specific tasks.
If you’re considering LASIK, you may be wondering how it compares to other vision correction options. Keep reading to learn more about how LASIK stacks up against other procedures!
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a procedure that corrects refractive errors, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
In eyes with 20/20 vision, various parts of the eye work together to bend, or refract, light, ensuring it focuses sharply on the retina for clear vision. However, in individuals with refractive errors, the eye doesn’t bend light properly, causing it to miss the retina and resulting in blurry vision.
With LASIK, many patients experience a significant reduction in their dependence on glasses or contact lenses, needing them only for specific tasks like reading fine print.
What Happens During LASIK?
Your LASIK surgeon will start by applying numbing eye drops to ensure you’re comfortable during the procedure. Next, a soft suction ring is used to stabilize your eye while the femtosecond laser creates a thin flap on the outer layer of your cornea. The surgeon will then place a device to keep your eyelids open and carefully lift and fold back the flap to expose the underlying corneal tissue.
Using an excimer laser programmed with your exact prescription, the surgeon will reshape the cornea to correct your refractive error. Once the cornea is properly reshaped, the flap is gently repositioned, where it begins to immediately reattach naturally without the need for stitches.
LASIK typically involves minimal downtime, with most patients returning to work the very next day.
How Does LASIK Compare to PRK?
Some people may not be ideal candidates for LASIK due to factors such as:
- Dry eyes, which could worsen after the procedure
- Thin or flat corneas
- A very active lifestyle or participation in contact sports like boxing or martial arts, which could potentially dislodge the corneal flap
Depending on why you’re not a suitable candidate for LASIK, your eye doctor may recommend an alternative procedure like PRK. PRK is a laser eye surgery that, like LASIK, effectively treats astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness, but without creating a corneal flap. Instead, the surgeon removes the outer layer of the cornea (the epithelium), allowing them to reshape the underlying corneal tissue to correct your refractive error.
While both LASIK and PRK are equally effective and offer similar long-term results, the recovery process for PRK is typically slower. This is because it takes time for the cornea’s epithelium to regenerate, whereas LASIK has a faster recovery time due to the quick healing of the corneal flap.
How Does LASIK Compare to a Refractive Lensectomy?
Refractive lensectomy, also known as a refractive lens exchange (RLE), can be an excellent option for patients who aren’t suitable candidates for LASIK or PRK due to factors such as:
- Presbyopia, which cannot be corrected by LASIK or PRK
- Thin or irregular corneas
- The early stages of cataracts
- Severe farsightedness or nearsightedness beyond what LASIK or PRK can correct
With a refractive lensectomy, your cornea remains intact. Rather, your surgeon will remove the natural lens of your eye and replace it with an intraocular lens or IOL.
There are different types of IOLs, including the Light Adjustable Lens, monofocal IOLs, toric IOLs, and multifocal IOLs. Depending on the IOL you select, you could dramatically decrease or eliminate your reliance on visual aids entirely.
After a refractive lensectomy, you won’t require cataract surgery in the future because a cataract can never develop on an IOL.
How Do You Know Which Vision Correction Method Is Right For You?
Before undergoing LASIK, PRK, or RLE, you’ll have a consultation with your eye doctor, who will review your medical history and conduct a comprehensive eye health examination. During this consultation, you’ll also discuss your lifestyle, goals, and expectations, allowing your doctor to recommend the most suitable vision correction procedure for you.
Ready to achieve visual freedom? Schedule your appointment at VisionPoint Eye Center today to discover which procedure is right for you.
