Refractive surgery
Refractive eye surgery is used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This can include various methods of surgical remodeling of the cornea (keratomileusis), lens implantation or lens replacement. The most common methods today use excimer lasers to reshape the curvature of the cornea. The most widely performed types of refractive surgery are LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) & PRK (Photorefractive keratectomy), where an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea.
Refractive surgery might be a good option for you if you:
Want to decrease your dependence on glasses or contact lenses;
Are free of eye disease;
Accept the inherent risks and potential side effects of the procedure;
Understand that you could still need glasses or contacts after the procedure to achieve your best vision;
Have an appropriate refractive error.
Alternative Refractive surgery options
Wavefront-Guided LASIK: In wavefront-guided LASIK, computer imaging technology creates a very detailed three-dimensional "map" of the patient's cornea which is used to program the excimer laser for surgery. Wavefront technology can measure very subtle abnormalities in the surface of the cornea, enabling wavefront-guided LASIK to achieve vision correction beyond what is possible with glasses or conventional LASIK.
Phakic IOLs are designed for people with high degrees of refractive errors that cannot be safely corrected with corneal-based refractive surgery. The phakic IOL, sometimes referred to as an implantable contact lens, or ICL, is surgically implanted inside the eye in front of the eye's natural lens. The eye's natural lens is not removed, so patients can retain their pre-existing ability to focus.
Refractive lens exchange (RLE)/ Clear Lens Extraction or CLE involves replacing your eye's natural lens with an artificial lens. The procedure is performed much like cataract surgery.
As is an option in cataract surgery, RLE may employ multifocal or accommodative intraocular lenses (IOLs). These lenses allow the ability to focus at all distances.
Some people who have early stage cataracts may choose to have RLE instead of waiting for their cataracts to progress to the point where they should be removed.
RLE may also be an option for people with severe hyperopia (farsightedness), for whom LASIK is not recommended.