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What's New with LASIK

Refractive Surgery: Do You Know What Your Options Are?

Refractive Surgery has been around for over 20 years.  First it was RK in the early 90's, LASIK in the late 90's and now, Implantable Contact Lenses. 

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/or had low amounts of astigmatism. Cuts were made by hand with specially designed diamond blades which reshaped the cornea.

Then PRK (photorefractive keratotomy) was approved in 1995. This procedure, which is used in practices all over the world, is good for people with low amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.  But it also has it limits as far as who is a candidate. PRK was improved with the addition of making a surface 'flap' which sped healing. The new procedure was termed LASIK (lasr assisted in-situ keratamiliusis). Ophthalmologists have reconfigured their protocols on LASIK in the last few years.  It may no longer be the best surgical option for a person who has moderate to severe nearsightedness (myopia), 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 option.  It's called ICL vision correction or the 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. 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 procedure 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 removed and/or replaced by an ophthalmic surgeon.  This lens has been embraced by the U.S. military as an alternate option to LASIK.  With ICL surgery there is no flap to worry about as with LASIK.  ICL 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 or stitches used in this procedure, and the recovery is almost 'overnight'.

There are two types of Implantable Contact lens on the market, Verisyse and Visian.  At the Temas Eye Center, Dr. Gregory P. Temas has tested and trained worldwide with this lens implant.  He is the first and only ophthal-mologist in this area certified to implant both types of lens.  Dr. Gregory Temas has been performing refractive surgery since 1989, and has done thousands of procedures!

If you have been told in the past that there were NO options to correct your vision, the ICL could be your answer now.

Call us today...and see if you are a candidate!