ALTERNATIVES TO LASIK SURGERY

Candidate for LASIKHave you been told by someone other than an experienced King LASIK ophthalmologist that you are not a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery? Did the other ophthalmologist explain that there are several other potential treatment options if LASIK is not right for you? If not, keep reading. At King LASIK, we offer several treatment alternatives to LASIK surgery that may help you see clearly without having to depend on glasses or contact lenses.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

During LASIK surgery, the laser eye surgeon creates a flap in the cornea, which he or she gently lifts back to access the underlying corneal tissue. The eye surgeon then removes microscopic particles of this underlying corneal tissue in order to reshape the overall curvature of the cornea. This corrects the refractive error causing the vision problem.

Some patients are not suitable candidates for LASIK surgery because their corneas are too thin to withstand the corneal flap creation required for the LASIK procedure. However, these same patients may be suitable candidates for an alternative refractive surgical procedure called “PRK.”

With PRK, the laser eye surgeon simply removes the outer layer of the cornea, which allows the surgeon to reshape the underlying corneal tissue in the same way that he or she would with LASIK. The body will regenerate the outer layer of epithelial cells that cover the cornea within several days following the procedure.

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Another potential alternative to LASIK surgery is RLE. RLE is often an appropriate treatment alternative for patients with high farsightedness or presbyopia, the inability to focus up close as we get older. RLE involves removing the dysfunctional eye lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear sight after surgery.

Revisiting the Possibility of LASIK Surgery

Finally, if you were told that you are not a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery many years ago, you may now be eligible, thanks to the vast improvements in laser technologies that have occurred over the years. If it has been several years since you were told you were ineligible for laser vision correction surgery, it might be time to revisit the possibility of having LASIK surgery.

To find out if your LASIK candidacy has changed, visit King LASIK. To schedule a complimentary assessment, contact King LASIK by calling (877) 551-2020.