LASIK is a safe and effective procedure, but it’s not the best choice for all patients. Some people are disqualified on the basis of their age, health conditions, or lifestyle. For example, pregnant women aren’t good candidates for LASIK. Neither are children under the age of 18. Both groups might experience changes to their eyes that would interfere with their LASIK results. LASIK is not recommended for people who take steroids or suffer from autoimmune diseases. Athletes who participate in contact sports are also discouraged from getting LASIK.
If you’d like to improve your vision but aren’t a good candidate for LASIK, here are some alternatives to consider.
Conductive keratoplasty, or CK, uses radio wave energy to shape the patient’s corneas. This procedure is most commonly used to correct farsightedness. It can also be used to correct both nearsightedness and farsightedness, resulting in better blended vision. One of the main benefits of CK is its short duration; both eyes can usually be corrected in twenty minutes or less.
Laser thermal keratoplasty, or LTK, is similar to LASIK because it involves the use of a laser. However, LTK is a touch-free, non-invasive procedure. In this case, the surgeon uses a holmium laser to adjust the slope of the patient’s cornea. With the application of heat, doctors make the corneas steeper. This corrects farsightedness, and is typically used on patients over the age of 40. The results are semi-permanent.
Intraocular Contact Lenses, or ICLs, are lenses that are placed behind the iris. These surgically-implanted contact lenses produce impressive results. Most ICL recipients are astonished by their new visual acuity, especially since the surgery leaves the eye’s existing structures intact. This is a short surgery that takes ten to twenty minutes per eye.
If vision correction surgery isn’t for you, ask your eye doctor about progressive lenses. These are unlined lenses that act as bifocals to produce excellent blended vision. Don’t want to wear glasses? Sit down with your ophthalmologist and share your questions and concerns. They will look at your history and current health and lifestyle, and make a recommendation for the best course of treatment.
