Vision Correction Surgery in Hermosa Beach, CA
What are the Alternatives to LASIK?
You may have heard it before. A friend or co-worker tell you that they looked into LASIK only to be told that they don’t qualify for it. Depending upon the condition of a person’s eye, it is possible that LASIK is not the right approach for them. There was a time when patients who had astigmatism or who only had trouble with their up-close vision were not considered to be good candidates. But as technology has improved, this isn’t always the case anymore. Other people are not candidates because of a very high prescription or a dry eye or a thin cornea. There are alternatives for these patients, making improved vision with glasses or contact lenses a possibility to more people than ever before.
Wavefront PRK – No-Flap Procedure
Wolstan & Goldberg Eye Associates can also perform photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), approved by the FDA in 1995 as a precursor to LASIK. In PRK, the epithelium or top layers of the cornea are removed to allow access for laser reshaping of the middle layers. After surgery, the outer layers will regenerate as the eye heals. The surgeon will closely monitor the healing process, which takes a few days longer than with LASIK.
Visian ICL
The Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) can be the best option for many patients seeking to live and see life uninhibited without altering the shape of the cornea. The Visian ICL is made of a biocompatible material that contains part polymer and part collagen, specifically designed to help you see your best without the possible side effect of glare and light irritations in low-light, helping to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses and contacts.
The Visian® ICL procedure consists of placing a biocompatible corrective lens, similar to a contact lens, just under the surface of the front part of the eye itself. The ICL is implanted in front of the eye’s natural lens, and behind the iris, where it is invisible to the naked eye. The overall surgical technique is very similar to cataract surgery. In clinical studies, The Visian® ICL has proven to result in the best vision quality among several vision correction solutions like contacts and glasses. Recovery is typically extremely fast and post-operative vision is usually incredibly sharp. The Visian® ICL is a 7 minute outpatient procedure, and most patients see well enough to drive by the next day. It is the vision correction procedure of choice in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Clear Lens Extraction
After many years of successful cataract surgery, the same procedures are now being applied to correcting vision before cataracts have developed. Many people over 40 are choosing IOLs when their natural lenses begin to lose their flexibility, reducing visual clarity at near and intermediate ranges. This aging process is called presbyopia. Since cataracts are probably inevitable for these patients, clear lens extraction and replacement provides additional years of good vision with little or no dependency on glasses.
If you are over 40 and beginning to experience the early stages of cataract development, the surgeons of Wolstan & Goldberg Eye Associates will be happy to evaluate your case and help you determine if you are a good candidate for clear lens extraction.
