Refractive Surgery Co-Management

Would you like to live without glasses or contact lenses? Our doctors will perform a thorough evaluation, discuss your options and refer you to the leading refractive specialists in the area. We maintain quality continuity of care with surgeons and therefore, we are able to provide the necessary post-op care in our office.

Types of Refractive Surgery

LASIK, also known as “laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis,” is the most popular refractive procedure. A surgeon creates a flap in the cornea then uses a laser to reshape the cornea. LASIK is used to help correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, as well as astigmatism. The amount of a patient’s prescription, corneal thickness and ocular health determine whether he or she is a good candidate.

PRK is a similar but older procedure than LASIK. An instrument is used to remove the epithelium(top layer) of the cornea then a laser is used to reshape the cornea. This procedure requires a bandage contact lens as the epithelium heals. The healing time is longer, but for some patients this procedure is recommended over LASIK.

Refractive Lensectomy is a surgical procedure that uses the same successful techniques of modern cataract surgery. The difference between standard cataract surgery and refractive lensectomy is that cataract surgery is performed to remove a patient’s cloudy lens that is obstructing their vision, while refractive lensectomy removes a clear lens and replaces it with a man made acrylic lens to reduce a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

Visian ICL is an Implantable Contact Lens for patients with moderate to high degrees of myopia (nearsightedness). This lens is used to treat patients who would not otherwise be candidates for traditional refractive procedures like LASIK or PRK.

Intacs are tiny, clear ring segments that are inserted into the cornea to provide stabilization and a more natural cornea curve. For patients who suffer from keratoconus, the quality of vision is distorted by a weakened cornea. The Intacs procedure can delay the necessity of a corneal transplant, and improve the comfort of contact lens wear for those who are contact lens intolerant.