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Refractive Surgery: Do You Know What Your Options Are?

 

Refractive Surgery: Do You Know What Your Options Are?

Refractive Surgery has been around for the last 20 years. First it was RK in the early 90s, LASIK in the late 90s and now, Implantable Contact Lens. Refractive Surgery has come a long way in the last several years. There is an option available for almost everyone now.

RK was first invented and performed on patients who were nearsighted, farsighted and low amounts of astigmatism, but was limited. Cuts were made by hand to reshape the cornea.

Then LASIK came, which is still commonly used in practices all over the world and is a good surgery for people with low amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. But it also has it limits as far as who is a candidate. Ophthalmologists have reconfigured their protocols on LASIK in the last year. It may no longer be the best surgical option for a person who has a moderate to severe amount of nearsightedness (myopia) or astigmatism, or someone who has thin corneas. The surgeon can determine what your best options are by doing some simple tests in the office.

For those who have been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK, should you research more? YES! You now have another possible option. It is called ICL vision correction or Implantable Contact Lens. Companies started testing these lenses in the early 90s. They received approval in the European markets over 15 years ago. More than 150,000 lenses have been safely implanted worldwide.

The ICL is a phakic (meaning your natural lens is left in the eye) intraocular lens, but unlike cataract surgery, this lens does not replace your eyes natural lens. Instead, the ICL is placed between the cornea and the iris. Unlike LASIK, this lens does not permanently alter the structure of the eye. This lens can remain in the eye indefinitely, meaning, it can stay forever or if you decide you do not want this implant or technology improves over the years, it can be reversed by an ophthalmic surgeon. This lens has been embraced by the U.S. military as an alternate option to LASIK. With this surgery there is no flap to worry about as with LASIK. This surgery is an outpatient procedure that takes no more than 10-15 minutes per eye. Usually one eye is treated at a time. There are no needles used in this procedure.

There are two types of Implantable Contact lens on the market, Verisyse and Visian. At Temas Eye Center, Dr. Gregory P. Temas has tested and trained worldwide with this lens implant. He is the only ophthalmologist in this area certified to implant both types of lens. Dr. Gregory Temas has been performing refractive surgery since 1990 in
Winston-Salem.

If you have been told in the past that there were NO options for you, you could have a perfect option now.

Robin Parker

Marketing Director/Refractive Surgery Coordinator
Temas Eye Center