You always hear a lot about LASIK eye surgery, but sometimes you wonder if there are other treatments out there to help your vision. After all, LASIK may work well for some people. What if it doesn’t work well for you, or what if you just aren’t sure you want LASIK?
Even though alternative treatments aren’t often talked about, they do exist. That’s not to say that LASIK is bad or that it should be avoided. In fact, a lot of people who get LASIK are really happy with the results. But there are times when LASIK isn’t the right fit for someone. it’s always good to get a LASIK consultation to find out if you really do or do not qualify for LASIK. If you’re considering alternative eye treatments to LASIK, then let’s make sure you’re familiar with some of the options.
Why Would I Need Alternative Eye Treatments?
Some of you might be wondering why you would need alternative treatments for LASIK. There are actually several reasons, starting with personal comfort. Some people are really uncomfortable with the idea of a laser surgically altering their eyes. Even though LASIK surgery is a highly successful surgery, it’s understandable that people would be a bit nervous about it.
Another reason you might need a different eye treatment is that you don’t qualify for LASIK. LASIK is a surgery, and surgery has some inherent risks. To make sure that LASIK recipients are going to have the best experience and results possible, surgeons will conduct a LASIK consultation to determine if you actually qualify. If, for some reason, you don’t qualify for LASIK surgery, then you may want or need to pursue other eye treatments.
LASIK Qualifications
You can’t know if you qualify for LASIK until you have a LASIK consultation with an experienced surgeon. But there are a few things you can keep in mind that may affect whether or not you qualify for LASIK surgery.
One big qualifier is that LASIK generally only treats nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If you have other eye conditions that affect your vision, LASIK may not be the right treatment for your eyes. Additionally, if you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, your prescription needs to have been stable for over a year, otherwise, it’s too likely that your vision could change again following surgery.
Underlying health conditions could also affect whether or not you qualify for LASIK. For example, if you have a heart condition, the risk of surgery might be too great. And if you’re pregnant, surgeons will likely encourage you to wait until after pregnancy to have LASIK performed. This is partly due to the risks of surgery, but it’s also possible that hormonal fluctuations could affect your vision during pregnancy.
Don’t rule out LASIK too quickly. A lot of people end up qualifying who didn’t think they could. Additionally, if you don’t qualify now or haven’t qualified in the past, it is possible that you could qualify in the future as technology improves. But you should also look into alternative eye treatments.
Alternative Eye Treatments
We ought to mention here, as we take a look at alternative treatments that certain qualifications may also need to be met for the following treatments. LASIK may not be the right option for you, but not everything mentioned here will be either. Make sure you discuss all your options with your doctor to find out what treatments would be the best for you. But to give you an idea of what alternative treatments do exist, here are a few to keep in mind.
Glasses or Contacts
You may not want to hear this, but for some people, the best option really is to use glasses or contact lenses. This certainly depends on individual circumstances. Though many people do qualify for surgical treatments, some eye conditions can’t yet be treated with surgery. So if you want clear vision but don’t qualify for (or aren’t comfortable with) a surgery, don’t rule out glasses and contacts. They may be just the tool you need to have clear vision.
Other Surgeries
Glasses and contacts are a good option for some people, but a lot of people still don’t want to deal with them, so if they don’t have to they’d rather not. There are other surgical options aside from LASIK that can be performed to help improve vision. One common surgery that is done to help people see better is called PRK surgery, or Photorefractive keratectomy surgery. This surgery is very similar to LASIK but it treats a different layer of the cornea, so if you have thin corneas, this can be a useful alternative to LASIK. There is more than one type of PRK surgery, so make sure to talk to your doctor about the best option for you.
Another surgery option is called SMILE which removes a small section from within the cornea with a laser. This is different from LASIK in that it doesn’t shave off the outside of the cornea with a laser but works inside the cornea. There are also a few surgery options involving implantable intraocular lenses that replace the natural lens in your eye.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of treatments for your eyes. And remember, sometimes the best thing you can do for your eyes is just take care of and maintain their health by eating nutritious foods and protecting them from harmful light. Whether you need surgery or not, these are things you should still be doing for optimal eye health.
Find Out Which Eye Treatment is Right For You
If you want to know whether you qualify for LASIK, or if you want to know what other eye treatments are available to you, set up a LASIK consultation with Dr. Davis at Davis Vision Center. Dr. Davis has performed over 40,000 laser eye surgeries during his career, and his experience will ensure that you receive the right treatment and have the best possible experience in the process. Contact Davis Vision Center today to set up your first appointment.
