Alternatives to LASIK
LASIK alternatives include both surgical and non-surgical methods
of vision correction. Occasionally, patients choose one of
the LASIK alternatives rather than the LASIK procedure.
There are a number of reasons that LASIK alternatives may prove to
be a better choice for certain patients. First, many of the LASIK alternatives
are non-surgical, such as glasses or contact lenses. Some patients are
more comfortable with these LASIK alternatives since they do not involve
permanent changes to the structure of the eye. Non-surgical LASIK lternatives
are lower in risk, although they are usually considered less convenient
than LASIK. Surgical LASIK alternatives include Photorefractive Keratectomy
(PRK), Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK), Radial Keratomy (RK), and implantable
corneal rings. Surgical LASIK alternatives, with the exception of corneal
rings, are not reversible. For some patients, surgical LASIK alternatives
such as Astigmatic Keratotomy may be better suited to their particular
vision problems. All surgical LASIK alternatives carry risks similar
to LASIK, and patients should fully understand the benefits and hazards
of LASIK alternatives before making their final decision. In many cases,
the examining doctor will suggest appropriate LASIK alternatives to
the patient, and some doctors will encourage patients unsuited to LASIK
to investigate LASIK alternatives instead.
If you would like to learn more about the various available surgical
and non-surgical LASIK alternatives, you may wish to contact a LASIK
doctor with experience in the field of LASIK alternatives. While some
patients find that LASIK is not the appropriate vision treatment for
them, LASIK alternatives also carry some risk and should be fully investigated
before a decision is made.
If you would like to learn more about lasik alternatives,
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