Alternatives to Lasik Surgery

(Additional Refractive Surgery Options)

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

For those patients who are not Lasik candidates, Refractve Lens Exchange corrects nearsightedness and farsightedness by replacing the eye’s natural lens with an intraocular lens implant. It can be a good alternative for those over age 40 who want to be completely independent of glasses.

This is the same highly successful procedure that has been used on millions of eyes who have received an intraocular lens implant while undergoing cataract surgery. The main difference between cataract surgery and RLE is that cataract surgery is used to replace a patient’s cloudy lens, while RLE is used to reduce a patient’s dependence on glasses.

In an outpatient procedure, the natural lens is removed with ultrasound energy and replaced with an intraocular lens. Although patients heal differently, most have an immediate improvement in their vision and can resume normal activities quickly. One eye is done at a time with typically two to three weeks between eyes.

Phakic Intraocular Lens (Visian® ICL)

Phakic Intraocular Lens implantation may be an alternative for patient’s under 50 who are too nearsighted for laser vision correction. In this procedure, an intraocular lens implant (Visian® ICL) is placed inside the eye without removing the natural lens to correct nearsightedness. These patients often note improvement in the accuracy, quality, and clarity in their vision compared to other procedures.

Phakic Intraocular Lens implantation is performed as a quick easy outpatient procedure. There is minimal discomfort and vision improvement is immediately noted in most cases. No injection or general anesthetic is required. One eye is done at a time with typically two to three weeks between eyes.