LASIK Alternatives Give Surgeons the Power to Personalize

Because LASIK is so popular, you may think it is the only type of laser eye surgery. This couldn’t be further from the truth.  In fact, there are several techniques and technologies that make up a spectrum of choices in vision correction surgery. Taken together, vision correction options – including PRK, SMILE, and ICL –  give surgeons the ability to recommend a procedure to address a patient’s specific vision needs and lifestyle demands.

If you are thinking about moving beyond glasses or contact lenses and wondering about LASIK alternatives, below is an overview of the most common procedures available in the U.S. today.

LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis)

Like other types of laser eye surgery, the LASIK procedure reshapes the cornea to enable light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina for clearer vision. LASIK is a two-step procedure:

The first step makes a micron-thin, circular flap in the surface of the eye – called the cornea. This is performed under eye drop anesthesia, takes just a few seconds and the surgeon uses either a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. Next, the flap is gently lifted to reveal the surface where the actual vision correction treatment takes place.

In the second step, a computer-guided excimer laser removes the microscopic pieces of tissue creating the patient’s vision problems. The flap is then laid back in place to act as a natural bandage and protect the reshaped cornea as it heals. The results — improved vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses — can usually be seen in as little as 24 hours.

How good is LASIK?  To date, more than 7,000 peer-reviewed clinical papers have been published defining LASIK’s reputation for excellent visual outcomes and safety profile. Recently, a team of researchers from refractive surgery centers in the United States and Germany reviewed the results of 97 LASIK studies published between 2008 and 2015. As a result, the outcomes of nearly 68,000 procedures were analyzed and found:

• 99.5 percent of eyes attained uncorrected distance visual acuity better than 20/40 after LASIK.
• 98.6 percent of eyes were within +/- 1.0 diopter (D) of the target refractive outcome.
• 90.9 percent of eyes were within +/- 0.5 D of the target refractive outcome.
• 98.8 percent of patients reported being satisfied with their LASIK results.

Who are good candidates for LASIK?

LASIK is a great option for adult patients with a stable prescription – meaning it hasn’t changed in over a year – for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism with adequate corneal thickness. If you’re not a good LASIK candidate, there are other types of vision correction surgeries available, such as PRK and SMILE laser eye surgery, but there are others.

Procedure time: less than 10 minutes per eye

Typical results: 20/20 or better vision without glasses or contact lenses

Recovery time: a few days to several weeks for the vision to stabilize

Cost: $2,000 – $3,000 per eye

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

With more than 20 years of clinical performance delivering excellent outcomes safely and effectively, PRK is a great alternative to the more popular LASIK procedure. Like LASIK, PRK is both safe and effective. Visual outcomes with PRK are similar to LASIK, however, the recovery process can be challenging to some as there is some discomfort involved.

Just like with LASIK, with this type of laser eye surgery eye drops are used to numb the eye to make the patient comfortable during the procedure. The outer layer of the cornea, known as the epithelium, is removed and an excimer laser is used to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the surface of the cornea. The result is a smooth, shaped surface that improves the eye’s ability to focus.

To protect the newly shaped surface of the eye, a contact lens is put in place as a bandage until the epithelium layer heals, which takes about 5 days. While the procedure itself is relatively painless, once the anesthesia wears off patients typically experience discomfort, blurred vision, dry eye, glare, and halos during the recovery process. This healing process can take several days and up to three months for patients to achieve their best-corrected vision. During the recovery and healing, patients are prescribed a routine of eye drop medications to prevent infection and inflammation and keep the eyes comfortable by maintaining the right moisture balance.

How good is PRK? The results from PRK are very similar to LASIK. However, the healing process can impact the final best-corrected visual outcome, resulting in either under-correction or over-correction that may be resolved with additional treatment.

Who are good candidates for PRK?

PRK is particularly well suited for adult patients with stable prescriptions of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism seeking a laser vision correction option, but who may not be eligible for LASIK. Patients with thin corneas, large pupils, corneal scarring, or those who enjoy playing contact sports or who have jobs with a high risk for eye injury such as emergency responders often benefit from PRK.

Procedure time: about 10 minutes per eye

Typical results: 20/20 vision without glasses or contact lenses

Recovery time: several days to several weeks for vision to stabilize

Cost: $2,000 – $3,000 per eye.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)

SMILE is a type of laser vision correction performed using a femtosecond laser to create a thin disc of tissue – similar to the shape of a contact lens – from within the layers of the cornea. The disc of tissue, known as a lenticule, is removed through a small opening in the surface of the eye, also created by the laser, to change the overall shape of the cornea to improve vision while leaving most of the eye’s surface undisturbed.

Because the incision in the surface of the eye is small – less than 6 mm – the SMILE laser eye surgery procedure is considered minimally invasive. SMILE has been available outside the United States for more than 10 years, and 5 million procedures have been performed worldwide.

How good is SMILE? Research is showing SMILE produces virtually the same visual acuity as LASIK for the correction of nearsightedness. To date, more than 400 clinical studies have been conducted to determine it is a safe and effective vision correction option for those who are good candidates. Recent research findings include:

• Six months after surgery, 99 percent of participants achieved 20/40 or better vision.
• 84 percent of participants achieved 20/20 or better vision at the 6-month post-op visit
• 91.7% stated they were “Very Satisfied” with the results of their surgery.

Who are good candidates for SMILE?

SMILE laser vision correction is an option for adult patients over the age of 22 with stable nearsighted prescriptions with or without astigmatism.  SMILE is not approved for the treatment of hyperopia or farsightedness

Procedure time: about 10 minutes per eye

Typical results: 20/40 or better vision without glasses or contacts.

Recovery time: a few days to several weeks for the vision to stabilize

SMILE cost: similar to LASIK and PRK, approximately $2,000 – $3,000 per eye.

ICL (Implantable Collamer Lenses)

ICLs or implantable collamer lenses are clear lenses that work within the eye to focus vision, rather than on the surface of the eye like a contact lens, and it is another surgical option for people who want to see well without needing glasses or contacts. With similar outcomes and recovery to LASIK, ICLs are often recommended to patients who aren’t good candidates for laser eye surgery making it a good LASIK alternative. The latest clinical data show:

• Nearly 100 percent of ICL patients achieve 2020 or better vision within 3 months after surgery
• Up to 68 percent of patients report 20/16 vision at their 3-month post-op visit\
• 99 percent of patients report being satisfied with their ICL experience three years after the procedure

Who are good candidates for ICL?

ICL vision correction is for patients between the ages of 21 – 45 with healthy eyes and stable vision prescription. They are a great alternative for patients who have been told their prescription is too strong, the condition of their cornea doesn’t support laser vision correction, or they are looking for a removable vision correction option.

ICL technology can correct nearsighted prescriptions ranging from -3.0D to -15D with less than 2.5D of astigmatism. For those with nearsighted prescriptions between -15D and -20D, ICLs can reduce visual impairment allowing patients to see better with glasses or contacts.

Procedure time: approximately 20 minutes per eye

Typical results: 20/20 or better vision without glasses or contacts

Recovery time: a few days to several weeks for the vision to stabilize

ICL cost: between $4,000 – $6,000 per eye for the most advanced ICL procedure with costs varying depending upon the location of the surgery.

Is a vision correction procedure right for you?  The fact is, there are several options and LASIK alternatives surgeons can recommend a personalized treatment to a patient’s specific needs, but not everyone is a good candidate. Therefore, the best way to find out what type of vision correction procedure, if any, is appropriate for your eyes, vision, and lifestyle is to have a thorough evaluation with a highly qualified surgeon to discuss your needs and make an informed recommendation. From there, you and your surgeon can work together, discuss the risks and benefits of any one procedure, and decide on how best to achieve your vision goals.