LASIK Alternatives

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Alternatives to LASIK Surgery

There are many alternative to lasik surgery available in the market to correct vision impairment of any kind. Basically it can be divided into two categories i.e. the Excimer Laser Procedures and Non-Excimer Laser Procedures.

Excimer Laser Procedures
These procedures involve the use of laser to reshape the eye's surface (cornea) altering the way light rays enter the eye to achieve focus.

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
Acronym for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a form of laser treatment for individuals with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. It combine two refractive technologies: Use of a microkeratome, to create a thin flap of tissue (approximately 130 to 180 microns thick) followed by excimer laser to remove material under the flap. LASIK usually takes less than one minute per eye.

Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)
Acronym for Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis, mostly applied to people with thin or flat corneas who are poor candidates for LASIK. A hybrid of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), the goal of LASEK is to preserve the corneal epithelium. Under this treatment, the surgeon will cuts a flap in the epithelium only, then an alcohol solution is applied to loosen the edges of the flap. This is a relatively new procedure.

Epi-LASIK
The technique is basically an automatic LASEK make use of neither a blade nor alcohol. It uses a a device similar to a microkeratome called epi-keratome, a separator that slides over the surface of the cornea, just underneath the epithelial layer of cells while suction is applied. Because no alcohol is involved, patients are likely to feel less pain than in alcohol procedures and will generally heal faster.

Bladeless or "All Laser" LASIK
Like LASIK, except that an additional laser instead of a bladed instrument (microkeratome) is used to create the flap in the front of the eye. As with regular LASIK, the flap then is lifted and laser energy is used to reshape the eye for vision correction.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
An acronym for PhotoRefractive Keratectomy, PRK is the first laser corneal refractive surgery. It is use to correct nearsightedness, mild to moderate farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure involving the removal of the epithelium by gentle scraping away of the corneal epithelium and use of a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape the stroma.

Non-Excimer Laser Procedures
These procedures involve inserting artificial lenses into the eye, reshaping the eye with low heat radio waves or laser energy, or cutting into the eye's surface.

Radial Keratotomy (RK)
Designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness) by flattening the cornea using radial cuts. This procedure will alters the shape of the cornea by placing microscopically thin relaxing incisions in the peripheral cornea. This causes the central portion of the cornea to flatten reducing the power of the eye and correcting myopia.

Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK) or Limbal Relaxing Incisions
Incisional surgical procedure used to correct corneal astigmatism. Similar to Radial Keratotomy (RK) in that it is incisional surgery, but the calculated surgical incisions are made traverse to the cornea. The surgeon cuts the cornea in certain areas that are too bulgy, in order to flatten them to a more regular curve.

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)
Is a non-ablative, collagen-shrinking procedure for the treatment of mild and moderate hyperopia. It uses mild heat from radio waves to shrink collagen in the periphery of the cornea. Radiofrequency energy is delivered through a fine tip inserted into the corneal stroma.

Implantable Contact Lenses (phakic intraocular lenses)
Are new implantation devices that can treat severe nearsightedness and farsightedness.The surgeon attaches the lens to the iris or places it behind the iris and in front of the eye's natural lens. Unlike regular contact lenses, you cannot feel the lenses and they do not require any maintenance. Should complications occur, the eye surgery is reversible.

Intacs
Are plastic inserts that at one time were marketed to treat mild nearsightedness and mild astigmatism, but now are used primarily to correct corneal bulging (keratoconus). The surgeon places the segments in the cornea to flatten it. The ring segments, though designed to be permanent, can be removed if necessary.

Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
Normally implanted during cataract surgery. They usually replace the existing crystalline lens because it has been clouded over by a cataract. IOLs used to be available only as a fixed focal lens to provide distance vision, with cataract patients requiring eyeglasses to help them with intermediate and close-up vision after the surgery.

Laser Thermal Keratoplasty (LTK)
The procedure uses a Holmium laser to shrink the peripheral area of the cornea in order to make the shape of the cornea steeper and correct mild to moderate cases of farsightedness. It is also being used to a limited degree to treat some cases of astigmatism.

Scleral Expansion Bands (SEBs)
Potential new implantation devices to treat presbyopia. Increasing lens zonular tension by implanting small polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bands in the sclera over the ciliary body will allow accommodation to occur.

It is important to understand that one technique isn’t necessarily better than another, but each of them has certain characteristics that make it more or less effective in certain applications.