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If you are tired of living with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia, refractive laser surgery may be able to help! Our team of highly skilled eye care physicians has the proper experience to help correct your vision with these procedures for a better quality of life.
What is Refractive Laser Surgery?
Refractive surgery is a treatment for correcting refractive errors such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia. In most cases, refractive surgery reshapes the cornea, which lets light travel through it to properly focus on the back of your eye. Some of the most popular refractive laser procedures include:
· LASIK: This is a great option for people who are farsighted, nearsighted, or have astigmatism. The surgeon will create a flap in the outer layer of the cornea in order to access the underlying tissue. Then, a laser is used to reshape this tissue so the cornea can focus light properly.
· PRK: Photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, is used to correct mild to moderate farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. Similarly, to LASIK, this procedure uses a laser to reshape the cornea. However, it only affects the surface of the cornea and not the underlying tissue.
· RLE and PRELEX: Refractive lens exchange, or RLE and presbyopic lens exchange, or PRELEX, are a type of cataract procedure. During the procedure, a small incision is created at the edge of the cornea using a laser, and the natural lens is removed and replaced with a plastic lens implant. It is done to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness.
· Intacs: Also known as intracorneal ring segments, this procedure involves creating a small incision in your cornea using a laser. Two crescent-shaped plastic rings are then placed at the outer edge of the cornea, which flattens it to change the way that light rays focus on the retina. This procedure is used to fix keratoconus or an irregular-shaped cornea that can result in vision loss.
· Phakic Intraocular Lens Implants: These lenses are created for people who are too nearsighted to qualify for PRK or LASIK. During this procedure, a small incision is created at the edge of the cornea using a laser, and the implant lens is attached to your iris or is inserted behind the pupil.
· LRI: Limbal relaxing incision, or LRI, is not laser eye surgery, but is a surgical procedure used to correct astigmatism. During the procedure, a few incisions will be created at the steepest part of the cornea, helping it relax and become more rounded. This procedure can be done solo or along with laser cataract eye surgeries.
Candidates for Refractive Laser Surgery
Patients who have refractive vision problems who wish to improve their overall vision can often benefit from refractive laser surgery. In order to best determine if this option is right for you, contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one our eye care physicians. During this appointment, you will be able to discuss your symptoms and reasons for wanting this procedure with your doctor, and a treatment plan can be created for you.
Contact Us to Learn More
To learn more about refractive laser surgery and if you are a good candidate, contact Eye Care Physicians of New Jersey today! We will be happy to assist you in scheduling your initial consultation appointment.