Alternatives to Laser Eye Surgery

Alternatives to correcting vision include eye glasses and contact lenses.

Eyeglasses

Eye glasses are safe, relatively inexpensive and most people can wear them reasonably well. However, depending on the nature of the correction, the lenses may be thick, and may reduce or increase the size of visual image.

Contact lenses

Contact lenses are another non-surgical alternative. Contact lenses come in a variety of materials. Comfort, effectiveness, and ease of use vary. Since contact lenses rest directly on the cornea, not everyone is able to tolerate them. If fitted and used properly, contact lenses are effective, relatively safe and easy to use. Complications arising from the use of contact lenses include allergic reactions, infections, scratches, ulcers, or other injuries to the cornea.

Intacts

For those persons with mild nearsightedness, or myopia, (four diopters or less), Intacts™ might be a possible alternative. Intacts are surgically implanted plastic half rings that change the shape of the cornea. Intacts can be removed at a later date if so desired. Complications from Intacts may include difficulty with night vision, glare, halos, blurry or double vision and fluctuating distance vision. The FDA approved labeling indicating that up to 7% of these devices were removed for complications during the FDA phase III clinical trails.

Alternative surgeries

Other methods of refractive eye surgery available include Radial Keratotomy (RK) and Automated Lamellar Keratoplasy (ALK). RK is seldom performed today because the excimer laser can achieve the same effect without the need for placing deep radial incisions, which effectively lead to a weakening of the structure of the cornea to achieve the refractive effect. ALK is a procedure that existed before LASIK eye surgery, and is now not performed at all.