Carter Eye Lasik Vision Correction Blog

When LASIK was first offered in the mid-1990s, some people had it done who were not good candidates for it. Over the years, eye surgeons have learned more and more precisely who makes a good LASIK candidate and who would do better with a somewhat different procedure.

That increased practical knowledge has led to the development of several LASIK alternative procedures, designed to give safe and effective vision correction to people who are not good LASIK candidates.

The most common problem that disqualifies a person for LASIK is thin corneas. LASIK requires a surface flap to be folded back to give the laser access to a deeper cornea level. Since LASIK works by removing (ablating) some of the corneal tissue to reshape it, there must still be enough corneal thickness to hold the eye’s shape. If LASIK is done on an eye with too thin a cornea, a problem called ectasia can develop, where the cornea bulges forward and distorts vision.

Therefore LASIK alternative procedures use different methods to create a thinner flap than LASIK can create.

Four LASIK Alternatives at Carter Eye Center

• LASEK: which uses a diluted alcohol solution and an implement called a trephine to raise a thin layer of surface tissue.
• PRK: which creates no corneal flap at all. Instead it removes a thin sliver of surface tissue completely. After the vision correction is done, you wear a bandage contact lens to protect the eye while the surface cells grow back. This makes for a little longer recovery period but vision improvement is just as excellent as in other LASIK alternatives and it avoids all the complications that can potentially arise from the corneal flap.
• Clear Lens Exchange: which replaces the eye’s natural lens with an artificial lens and restores your vision at all distances. You can choose from several lenses, according to your particular eyes, needs, and lifestyle.
• The Visian ICL™: which stands for Implantable Collamer Lens and which is positioned in your eyes without removing the natural lens. It is like a contact lens placed behind the iris, in front of the natural lens.

With all these choices, we can offer a safe and effective vision correction to just about anyone. Why not call or email our Dallas, Texas LASIK office today and schedule a free personal consultation?