If you are either considering having refractive eye surgery or just interested in knowing more about laser refractive surgery, visit our office to find out if you are a candidate. Our doctors are well informed on all the latest and most technologically advances in refractive eye surgery. Based on many factors such as your refractive error, corneal thickness, age, occupation and lifestyle, we will recommend which procedure is best for you. We also co-manage with some of the best refractive surgeons in Orange County. When it comes to your eyes, we believe that you shouldn’t settle for “one size fits all” care. You should know all your options.
Although there are numerous types of refractive surgery options, the ones most commonly done today are: (1) LASIK, (2) PRK, (3) CK, (4) CLE, and (5) Implantable Lenses.
LASIK (LAser in SItu Keratomileusis): is a procedure used to correct vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. A special instrument (microkeratome) is used to gently lift a flap of corneal tissue, and then laser is applied to reshape the cornea. The corneal flap is carefully repositioned. This procedure allows light to focus more precisely on the retina, resulting in clearer vision.
What’s new with LASIK?
Custom LASIK: also known as wavefront LASIK or wavefront-guided LASIK, uses 3-dimensional measurements of how your eye processes images to guide the laser in re-shaping the cornea. With a wavefront measurement system, more precise, individualized vision correction outcomes may be achieved that would not be possible with traditional LASIK.
INTRALASE: is the first blade-free (no microkeratome) laser technology for performing the critical first step of the LASIK procedure: creating the corneal flap. IntraLase makes LASIK safer by replacing the hand-held microkeratome blade with the computer-guided precision of a laser.
PRK (PhotoRefractiveKeratectomy): is the original procedure that first used the Excimer laser to correct for nearsightedness. The laser sculpts the central optical area of the cornea. Tissue is removed or ablated until the cornea is shaped into the desired curvature.
CK (Conductive Keratoplasty or Nearvision CK®): is the only vision procedure specifically designed for patients over 40 for the temporary reduction of farsightedness and presbyopia. CK can change how the eye focuses light by reshaping the cornea to treat farsightedness. It uses a controlled release of radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat and shrink corneal tissue, which steepens the cornea. This steepening modifies the surface of the cornea for the temporary reduction of farsightedness.
CLE (Clear Lens Extraction or Refractive Lens Exchange): involves the removal of the natural lens of your eyes with ultrasound energy and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens or IOL. IOLs are sometimes a practical option, particularly for middle-aged or older people with beginning cataracts. For younger people with very high prescriptions outside the laser range, this may be a viable option as well.
What’s new with intraocular lenses?
CLE has sparked more interest since the inception of the newer multifocal and accommodating intraocular lenses. These lenses have the ability to restore distance vision as well as improve near vision. If a traditional IOL is used, distance vision can be corrected, but reading glasses would still be needed.
Implantable Lenses (Phakic IOLs) : are new surgical options for people seeking vision correction. . These implantable lenses essentially function like glasses or contact lenses, except they do it within your eye. They are similar to the intraocular lenses used in cataract surgery and clear lens extraction. However, implantable lenses are placed in eyes that retain their natural lenses, unlike with cataract surgery and clear lens extraction where IOLs replace the natural lenses. Currently, the implantable lenses are FDA-approved for treating nearsightedness only. Clinical trials and research continue for farsighted and presbyopic phakic IOLs.
Although there are numerous types of refractive surgery options, the ones most commonly done today are: (1) LASIK, (2) PRK, (3) CK, (4) CLE, and (5) Implantable Lenses.
LASIK (LAser in SItu Keratomileusis): is a procedure used to correct vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. A special instrument (microkeratome) is used to gently lift a flap of corneal tissue, and then laser is applied to reshape the cornea. The corneal flap is carefully repositioned. This procedure allows light to focus more precisely on the retina, resulting in clearer vision.
What’s new with LASIK?
Custom LASIK: also known as wavefront LASIK or wavefront-guided LASIK, uses 3-dimensional measurements of how your eye processes images to guide the laser in re-shaping the cornea. With a wavefront measurement system, more precise, individualized vision correction outcomes may be achieved that would not be possible with traditional LASIK.
INTRALASE: is the first blade-free (no microkeratome) laser technology for performing the critical first step of the LASIK procedure: creating the corneal flap. IntraLase makes LASIK safer by replacing the hand-held microkeratome blade with the computer-guided precision of a laser.
PRK (PhotoRefractiveKeratectomy): is the original procedure that first used the Excimer laser to correct for nearsightedness. The laser sculpts the central optical area of the cornea. Tissue is removed or ablated until the cornea is shaped into the desired curvature.
CK (Conductive Keratoplasty or Nearvision CK®): is the only vision procedure specifically designed for patients over 40 for the temporary reduction of farsightedness and presbyopia. CK can change how the eye focuses light by reshaping the cornea to treat farsightedness. It uses a controlled release of radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat and shrink corneal tissue, which steepens the cornea. This steepening modifies the surface of the cornea for the temporary reduction of farsightedness.
CLE (Clear Lens Extraction or Refractive Lens Exchange): involves the removal of the natural lens of your eyes with ultrasound energy and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens or IOL. IOLs are sometimes a practical option, particularly for middle-aged or older people with beginning cataracts. For younger people with very high prescriptions outside the laser range, this may be a viable option as well.
What’s new with intraocular lenses?
CLE has sparked more interest since the inception of the newer multifocal and accommodating intraocular lenses. These lenses have the ability to restore distance vision as well as improve near vision. If a traditional IOL is used, distance vision can be corrected, but reading glasses would still be needed.
Implantable Lenses (Phakic IOLs) : are new surgical options for people seeking vision correction. . These implantable lenses essentially function like glasses or contact lenses, except they do it within your eye. They are similar to the intraocular lenses used in cataract surgery and clear lens extraction. However, implantable lenses are placed in eyes that retain their natural lenses, unlike with cataract surgery and clear lens extraction where IOLs replace the natural lenses. Currently, the implantable lenses are FDA-approved for treating nearsightedness only. Clinical trials and research continue for farsighted and presbyopic phakic IOLs.