What is refractive surgery?
Refractive surgery is a type of eye surgery that corrects your vision so you can see clearer at a certain distance, in the dark, or in general. During the surgery, the team at Foothill Eye Institute adjusts the curvature or shape of your cornea so your eye can better focus.
The most well known and widely used refractive surgical technique is laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). During this type of surgery, the team at Foothill Eye Institute uses a laser to safely and precisely reshape your cornea.
What does refractive surgery treat?
Refractive surgery treats refractive errors, which happen when the cornea is misshapen and cannot adequately focus beams of light on the retina. The retina is a light-sensitive layer in the back of your eye that communicates with the optic nerve, while the cornea is the clear front part of your eye.
The most common refractive errors are:
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism (blurriness at any distance)
- Presbyopia (loss of the ability to focus on nearby objects)
The team goes over the technique they’ll use to treat your specific type of refractive error. It’s important to keep in mind that refractive surgery is generally not the best treatment option for presbyopia. However, it can improve the other three types.
Can I benefit from refractive surgery?
Refractive surgery is a great alternative to lifelong glasses or contact lenses for some people, but it’s not the right option for every individual with a refractive error. If you’re interested in correcting your vision with refractive surgery, you should attend a consultation with the team at Foothill Eye Institute first.
The team conducts an eye exam, reviews your medical history, and asks you a series of questions during the consultation. Using the information they get from you, they can determine whether you’re a good candidate for refractive surgery. You might be a candidate if you:
- Want to reduce your use of glasses or contact lenses
- Have a refractive error
- Don’t have any eye diseases
- Understand and accept the risks and benefits of the surgery
If you’re not a good candidate for refractive surgery, the team still takes steps to ensure that you’re satisfied. They'll review your current corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses and confirm that your prescription is updated and current.
To schedule an examination and find out if you’re a good candidate for refractive surgery, call Foothill Eye Institute or book an appointment online today.
