LASIK Alternatives
Non-Surgical
Lens Implants
Laser-related refractive surgeries
Other refractive surgeries
Eyeglasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses, spectacles or simply spec, are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. Glasses are certainly safe, relatively inexpensive and most people can tolerate them well. Sometimes, depending on the nature of the correction, the lenses may be thick and compromising to the size of the visual image. Complications associated with the use of glasses are rare, unless they become misplaced or restrict certain activities.
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses come in a variety of materials and colors. Comfort, effectiveness, and ease of use vary with each individual. Since contact lenses rest directly on the cornea, not everyone is able to tolerate them well, and they may restrict certain activities. Well-fitted and used properly, contact lenses are effective and relatively safe. Complications arising from the use of contact lenses include allergic reactions, infections, scratches, ulcers, or other injuries to the cornea.
Clear Lens Extraction (CLE)
Clear lens extraction is a procedure in which the eye's natural internal lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens implant , sometimes referred to as an "IOL". In the past five years, it has become an acceptable alternative to other refractive procedures. This is essentially the same as Refractive Lens Exchange.
Phakic Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
The phakic intraocular lens is placed inside the eye without removing the natural lens, and performs much like an internal contact lens. Implantable contact lens surgery - a procedure which involves insertion of an artificial lens in a position in front of your natural lens in addition to your own lens which is left intact. If you have a very high nearsighted correction, an implantable contact lens may be for you.
Prelex - Refractive Lens Exchange
Those who are not candidates for LASIK or PRK or who desire treatment for presbyopia (the loss of reading vision often associated with age) now have more treatment options than ever before. Refractive lens exchange is a procedure which involves removal of the natural lens of the eye, then replacement with an artificial lens implant.
Intacs
Intacs are surgically implanted plastic half rings that change the shape of the cornea . For patients who suffer from Keratoconus and cannot wear glasses or contacts, Intacs can provide clear maintenance-free vision. Intacs prescription inserts are clear, thin prescription inserts that allow light rays to focus properly on the retina by gently reshaping the curvature of the cornea. There is no cutting or permanent removal of tissue involved, and Intacs can be removed and replaced if your vision changes. Even patients with severe keratoconus who have lost their ability to wear contact lens (Contact Lens Intolerant) may achieve excellent vision and comfort with contact lenses after receiving Intacs surgery.
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
Because PRK does not create a permanent flap in the deeper corneal layers as does LASIK, the cornea's structural integrity is less altered by PRK. PRK performs the laser ablation at the outer surface of the cornea. PRK does not involve a knife, microtome, or cutting laser as used in LASIK, but there may be more pain involved and a slower visual recovery. PRK eye surgery is used in a number of cases instead of LASIK. It is primarily for those with dry eyes or for those whose cornea may be too thin to allow for the creation of the corneal flap required for LASIK eye surgery. For more information, please read our section on PRK.
LASEK
LASEK and PRK basically use the same technique, but there are minor differences between them. In PRK, epithelium is removed and the outermost layer below the epithelium is treated with laser. In LASEK, epithelium is not removed, but an alcoholic solution is used to cause the epithelial cells to weaken; the surgeon will fold the epithelial layer out of the laser treatment field, and fold it back in its original place after cornea has been reshaped by laser. If the epithelial flap is not strong enough to be laid back in its original place, it will be removed, and the LASEK procedure becomes a PRK procedure.
Laser Thermal Keratoplasty (LTK)
Laser thermal keratoplasty is a non-contact laser refractive surgery. The procedure employs a holmium laser to place a ring of concentric laser burns on the cornea between 6mm and 7mm in diameter. These burns cause a ring of constriction on the peripheral cornea causing the cornea to steepen making the eye focus better at near. This procedure may regress somewhat over time. It is similar to the conductive keratoplasty (CK) procedure where a micro-needle high frequency probe is used to make a ring of corneal burns in a similar fashion.
Radial Keratotomy (RK)
Radial keratotomy (RK) is a refractive surgical procedure to correct myopia.RK was the first refractive procedure practiced in the U.S. on a wide scale in 1978. Radial Keratotomy is seldom performed today because the excimer laser can achieve the same effect without placing deep radial incisions of RK.
Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK)
AK treats astigmatism by flattening the cornea with arc-shaped incisions in its periphery. It is similar in principal to RK, where incisions are placed at the steepest points of the cornea in patients with astigmatism to relax and transform the cornea to a more spherical shape.
Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty (ALK)
Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty, commonly abbreviated to ALK uses a device called a microkeratome to separate a thin layer of the cornea and create a flap. The flap is then folded back, and the microkeratome removes a thin disc of corneal stroma below. The thickness and diameter of this disc determines the change in refractive error. The surgeon then places the flap back into position. This procedure can correct large amounts of myopia and hyperopia.
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)
Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is a type of refractive surgery that uses radio waves to adjust the contour of the cornea by shrinking the corneal collagen around it. It is used to treat mild to moderate hyperopia. It is a non-invasive alternative to other types of eye surgery. It is approved for low to moderate hyperopia in patients over age 40.
