Today More People Can Benefit from Vision Correction Surgery
Early in the evolution of LASIK, many patients wanting laser vision correction were told their prescriptions were too high, their corneas too thin, or their dry eye symptoms too severe to be eligible. To be clear, there are medical conditions and vision issues that, for some people, mean LASIK isn’t a good option. However, vision correction, like most fields in medicine, is dynamic. Surgeons work constantly to push science and technology in their commitment to continuous improvement in both safety and visual outcomes from LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures. The result of this effort—particularly for you—is that, today, more people and more types of vision prescriptions can take advantage of the benefits of vision correction surgery. So, if you were interested in having LASIK a few years ago but were told that you weren’t a good candidate, make an appointment with a refractive surgeon to see if the latest vision correction technologies can help you and your vision.
Today’s vision correction procedures have been fully optimized with more precise lasers, advanced lens technology, and high-definition digital measurement devices, resulting in more patients achieving 20/20 or better vision. Here are some of the latest technologies to ensure the best safety and outcomes. These include:
Femtosecond Lasers
Introduced in 2003, this ultra-precise laser replaces the surgical blade used to create the corneal flap, allowing some patients with thinner corneas to take advantage of LASIK. The femtosecond laser creates microscopically thin flaps, which have also been shown to reduce the incidence of dry eye post-LASIK. The femtosecond laser is also used for today’s SMILE procedure, another laser vision correction procedure surgeons may choose to recommend for those nearsighted patients who are good candidates.
Wavefront Mapping and Corneal Topography
Light waves are used to create a microscopically detailed digital blueprint of the surface of the eye and the shape of the cornea to create a complete analysis of the patient’s vision. The ability to precisely measure visual distortions is an essential benefit to surgeons to achieve both visual acuity (clear vision at all distances) and quality (reducing glare and halos).
Next-Generation Excimer Lasers
Advances in laser technology deliver vision correction capabilities to a wide range of vision prescriptions, making laser vision correction available to more patients wanting to see clearly without needing glasses and contact lenses.
Implantable Collamer Lenses
While many are familiar with LASIK and laser eye surgery, there are lens-based options for treating nearsightedness and astigmatism. Implantable Collamer Lenses – or ICLs – can treat a broad prescription range of nearsightedness (myopia) from -3D to -20 D, as well as astigmatism from 1.0 D to 4.0 D. ICLs give even more patients access to vision correction, helping to reduce or eliminate the need for wearing glasses or contacts.
LASIK was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nearly twenty years ago. Since then, more than 45 vision correction technologies have been evaluated and approved by the FDA. If you wanted LASIK but were told at the time you weren’t qualified, it is worth it to come in for a new evaluation to see if you are among those who can take advantage of the latest innovations in vision correction.
