Vision Correction

Decrease Your Dependence on Glasses with Refractive Surgery

Some people cannot stand wearing glasses and wearing contacts on a daily basis can be expensive. Refractive surgery is an umbrella term that includes numerous procedures for vision correction. If you have been diagnosed with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia, you could be a candidate for refractive surgery.

Our highly skilled ophthalmic surgeons utilize state-of-the-art technology and medical expertise to perform vision correction procedures for patients throughout New Jersey. With our help, you may never need to wear glasses or contacts again!

Types of Refractive Surgeries

There are several different kinds of refractive surgeries, the most common of which is LASIK. Most of these procedures involve reshaping the cornea so that it can properly focus light in the back of the eye. In some cases, an ophthalmologist may recommend completely replacing your eye’s natural lens with an artificial one.

The most common vision correction procedures ophthalmologists recommend include:

• LASIK (Laser in-situ keratomileusis) – Most doctors will recommend LASIK surgery for vision correction. In LASIK surgery, a small incision is made in the cornea so that a computer-controlled laser can access the eye and reshape it. At our facilities, we can perform LASIK surgery without the use of a knife thanks to our cutting-edge LASIK IntraLase® Blade-Free Technology.
• PRK (Photoreactive keratectomy) – This procedure uses a laser to reshape the corneas outer covering by removing small amounts of tissue from the surface. Ophthalmologists usually only recommend this is the patient is not a good candidate for LASIK surgery as the recovery period is a bit longer.
• LASEK (Laser epithelial keratomileusis) – This is a combination of LASIK and PRK techniques. During the operation, the cornea’s surface is loosed with an alcohol solution and moved aside so that the laser can reshape the cornea. It requires no incisions and is most often recommended for patients who cannot have LASIK.
• LTK (Laser thermal keratoplasty) – This is a less invasive procedure used to treat farsightedness and astigmatism. Instead of lasers, LTK uses heat to reshape the cornea and does not involve any touching of the eye, meaning less risk of infection or complication. However, this procedure is not often recommended because the effects are not permanent.

The Benefits of LASIK IntraLase® Procedures

LASIK surgery has revolutionized the way ophthalmologists and patients approach vision correction. We continue to offer the latest, cutting-edge, blade-free technology for eye surgery. With the LASIK IntraLase® technology, our specialists can correct the smallest imperfections and— in many cases— restore 20/20 vision for the patient.

The human eye is a sensitive, complex organ. Using precise laser technology is necessary to correct vision issues without damaging the eye and allows patients to heal quickly and even achieve better than 20/20 vision in some cases. For those patients who are ready to move on from glasses and contact lenses and explore their laser surgery options, LASIK IntraLase® procedures offer many benefits.

Benefits of LASIK IntraLase® procedures include:

• Dramatically improved vision
• Reduced risk of complications
• Improved comfort
• Fewer required follow-up treatments
• Reduced risk of dry eye

Following your LASIK IntraLase® procedure to correct an eye's imperfection, CustomVue -- another form of LASIK surgery -- will be used to improve that patient's vision as much as possible.

Have questions about your eligibility for LASIK surgery? Our ophthalmologists and specialists are ready to speak with you. Our facilities have helped thousands of patients of all ages with their eye care issues and provided many of them with the LASIK surgery solutions they need to see the world in a vivid new way.

Is Vision Correction Surgery Right for You?

Vision correction surgery is primarily seen as an elective surgery and it is rarely covered by insurance. You should also be aware that while you will be sedated, you cannot be unconscious during vision correction surgery, which can be difficult in patients who are sensitive to people touching their eyes.

That said, vision correction surgery success rates are higher than 90 percent, and could mean that you will never again need to wear glasses or contacts. This is a very personal decision, and you should discuss it with your eye doctor to fully understand the pros and cons.

For more information regarding vision correction, email Refractive@rwjbh.org.