Vision Correction

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) was the first successful laser vision correction procedure used to remove (ablate) tissue directly from the eye’s surface to change the curvature of the cornea. PRK, also known as surface ablation, was performed outside the United States during the 1980s and received FDA approval in 1995. PRK is still commonly used, but LASIK (see below) is by far the most popular laser procedure today.

However, PRK has made somewhat of a comeback in recent years because of studies indicating that PRK and LASIK produce similar outcomes. Also, nerve regeneration in the eye’s surface appears to take place faster with PRK than with LASIK following a procedure, which could have implications for reducing dry eye and other complications that might occur until the healing process is complete.

PRK is a surface procedure and there is no risk of surgical flap complications. PRK does not involve creating a thin, hinged flap on the eye’s surface, as occurs with LASIK. PRK also appears to be a safer procedure in cases when a person’s cornea may be too thin for LASIK surgery. Recent technological advances have given eye surgeons better methods of creating thinner flaps in a predictable way, meaning that people with thin corneas now might be candidates for a LASIK procedure.

However, you probably should consider a different type of vision correction procedure if you have a thin cornea and high degree of myopia that would require extra ablation to reshape the eye.

LASIK’s main advantage over PRK is that there is little or no discomfort immediately after the procedure, and vision is usually clear within hours rather than days. Different forms of LASIK exist, many that depend on how the flap is created:

• LASEK involves creating an ultra-thin hinged flap in the thin outer covering (epithelium) of the eye and floating it away from the eye’s surface with alcohol so that laser reshaping of the eye can occur.
  
  
• Epi-LASIK is like LASEK, except that a special cutting tool is used to lift the flap.
  
  
• Bladeless LASIK eliminates the need to use a bladed instrument (microkeratome) in LASIK surgery. Instead, a femtosecond laser is used to create the corneal flap prior to reshaping the cornea with an excimer laser. Other names (including brand names) for bladeless LASIK include blade-free LASIK, all-laser LASIK, femto LASIK, Intralase LASIK, intraLASIK, iLASIK, VisuMax and zLASIK.
  
  
• Wavefront LASIK or PRK (also known as wavefront-guided, wavefront-assisted, or custom LASIK/PRK) incorporates ultra-modern analysis, known as wavefront, to measure precisely how light travels through the eye. Excimer lasers with built-in wavefront analysis can detect and automatically adjust for subtle vision errors when laser energy is applied to reshape the cornea. Studies suggest wavefront-guided LASIK helps maintain contrast sensitivity and reduces the risk of night glare after LASIK surgery, explained in our Q&A about custom LASIK.

[Find out if you are a good LASIK surgery candidate.]

Conductive Keratoplasty (NearVision CK by Refractec) uses a tiny probe and low heat radio waves to apply “spots” around the periphery of the eye’s clear front surface. This relatively non-invasive method steepens the cornea, to provide near vision correction for people who are farsighted. CK also can be used to correct presbyopia or enhance near vision for people who have had LASIK or cataract surgery. CK received initial FDA approval in 2002.

Implantable Lenses (Visian ICL and Verisyse), similar to contact lenses, first received FDA approval in 2004. These surgically implanted lenses primarily are considered appropriate for higher levels of nearsightedness. When implantable lenses are used, your eye’s natural lens is left in place. Both of these lenses have a long track record of use, including more than 15 years in Europe.

Refractive Lens Exchange is another non-laser, internal eye procedure. RLE is much like cataract surgery. But instead of removing the eye’s natural lens that has grown cloudy due to cataract formation, RLE involves removing a clear natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens of a different shape, usually to reduce or eliminate high degrees of farsightedness.

RLE also might be considered as an option for correcting other types of vision problems, such as nearsightedness. But RLE has a higher risk of complications, compared with other vision correction procedures. For these reasons, RLE typically is used only in cases of severe vision correction needs.

Cataract surgery also can now be considered a vision correction procedure. New lens implants developed for cataract surgery can partially restore a person’s near vision in addition to correcting nearsightedness and farsightedness. These lenses, called multifocal IOLs or accommodating IOLs, currently are being used by many cataract surgeons, with promising results.

Also, toric IOLs that correct astigmatism can be used during cataract surgery to further reduce the need for eyeglasses after cataracts are removed.

While Medicare and health insurance will cover basic costs of cataract surgery, you can elect to pay out-of-pocket for the extra costs of these more modern lenses that potentially can restore a full range of vision. This is why cataract surgery now also can be viewed as a refractive surgery procedure, but only when you opt to pay extra for full vision correction.

[Read frequently asked questions about presbyopia-correcting IOLs.]