Refractive Surgery: LASIK/PRK
LASIK is a corneal refractive procedure performed to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses. It involves precision laser technology to carefully sculpt the cornea to treat astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness. Although not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK, some patients can still benefit from a related refractive surgery called PRK or a surgery called ICL (implantable collamer lens). You may be a good candidate for LASIK if your glasses or contact lens prescription has been stable for at least 1 year, your eyes are otherwise healthy, and you desire to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Several tests performed in the eye clinic are used to determine your eligibility for LASIK and to plan your surgery.
Your LASIK or PRK surgery will be performed in a laser suite rather than a typical operating room. You can expect to have both eyes undergo the procedure on the same day. After the procedure, you will need to use eye drops and have post-operative visits with your eye doctor. Your vision may take a couple of days to clear up after surgery. Typically, the recovery from LASIK is faster and more comfortable than for PRK.
Refractive Surgery: ICL
ICL (implantable collamer lens) surgery is an FDA approved refractive procedure to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. It is a reversible surgery that involves placing a thin lens within the eye to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses. Careful measurements of your eye are made prior to surgery to determine the type of lens to be used. Although not everyone is a good candidate for ICL surgery, it can be used with great success in some patients who are not candidates for LASIK. You may be a good candidate for ICL surgery if your glasses or contact lens prescription has been stable for at least 1 year, your eyes are otherwise healthy, and you desire to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
ICL surgery is performed in a typical operating room – either in a surgery center or in an operating room associated with your eye clinic. You will be given medication to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure, and you can expect to have both eyes done on the same day. After the procedure, you will need to use eye drops and have post-operative visits with your eye doctor. Your vision may take a couple of days to clear up after surgery.
Corneal Transplant
The cornea is composed of 5 layers. For various reasons – including trauma, infection and inherited conditions – some or all of the layers of the cornea can be damaged leading to scarring or swelling of the cornea and loss of clarity of vision. Intricate surgery on the cornea can be done to replace some or all of the layers of the cornea using the generous gift of deceased donors. Significant restoration of vision can occur as a result of these procedures.
As with all eye surgery, you will need to use eye drops or ointment afterward and have post-operative clinic visits with your doctor. If you undergo a partial-thickness corneal transplant of the inner cornea, you will need to lie face up as much as possible for the first 24-48 hours after surgery. Long-term periodic monitoring will be needed to assess the corneal transplant.
Corneal Crosslinking
Corneal crosslinking is a procedure to strengthen the structural integrity of your cornea. It is FDA approved for a condition called keratoconus when progression of the disease has been demonstrated. Crosslinking is designed to stop or reduce progression of this disease. After the superficial layer of the cornea is carefully removed, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) eye drops are given for 1 hour, and a specialized UV light is applied to the cornea for 30 minutes.
As with all eye surgery, you will need to use eye drops or ointment afterward and have post-operative clinic visits with your doctor. This procedure will not cure the keratoconus or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses; rather, it is designed to stabilize a progressive eye condition. Periodic monitoring of the cornea will be needed even after the crosslinking procedure.
