LASIK Alternatives

IntraLase, or laser in-situ keratomileusis, is the fastest-growing and most accepted form of laser vision correction. The surgery can treat both nearsightedness and farsightedness with or without astigmatism. LASIK tends to have the quickest recovery when compared to other refractive procedures. For more information, please visit our LASIK Center.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is similar in many ways, however, this treatment doesn’t involve creating a flap. Instead, the surface cells are gently removed, the cornea is treated with a cool laser, and a bandage contact lens is placed afterward for approximately 5-7 days. This contact lens acts as the flap would, protecting the eye as it heals.

LASIK and PRK provide the same visual effect and long term outcomes, however, the visual results following PRK take longer to achieve. And since we’re removing surface cells from the cornea, most patients experience more discomfort following PRK than they would LASIK.

We do provide a pain reliever following surgery to help with this discomfort, but most patients return to work and their normal daily activities within a few days.

This alternative is effective in treating low to moderate levels of myopia or hyperopia with or without astigmatism.

Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK)

This same treatment (PRK) can actually be performed for medical reasons, such as removing a corneal scar or addressing a corneal injury, and is then considered a Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK). In these instances, we can submit a prior authorization to your insurance company in the hopes of having them cover the procedure under your medical insurance plan. You can find additional information on PTK by visiting our other cornea procedures page.

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) is a procedure used for low degrees of farsightedness and to help reduce the need for reading glasses in those who’ve become presbyopic. Instead of a laser, CK reshapes the cornea using radio waves. In a circular pattern around the cornea, a small probe is used to basically “shrink” certain areas with low-level radiofrequency, resulting in a steeper cornea and improved vision.

There are very few complications associated with CK. Some patients may experience discomfort and light sensitivity for a few days after the procedure. Since the collagen that has been treated changes as you age, the procedure may need to be repeated every few years. To learn more about this refractive surgery alternative, visit our Other Cornea Procedures page.

Phakic Intraocular Lenses (Phakic IOLs) are artificial lens implants that are placed inside the eye while your natural lens remains intact. Although the first type of this technology was FDA approved for the treatment of myopia or nearsightedness in 2004, the physicians and surgeons at Minnesota Eye Consultants have been implanting these lenses for the treatment of high degrees of nearsightedness and farsightedness since 1998 as part of the multi-center, national research studies.

Patients who would benefit from this particular refractive surgery are those who have a strong glasses prescription, thin corneas, or prefer a non-laser vision correction. The surgical technique is similar to that used in cataract surgery, the major difference being that the natural lens is not removed and remains functional.

Using a topical or local anesthetic, your surgeon will create a small incision in your eye and insert the lens using specialized instruments. The exact technique and placement of the implant will differ depending on the type of lens implant chosen.

While an increase in vision may be noticed soon after the procedure, you won’t fully realize the visual benefits of the implant for 6 to 8 weeks following the procedure, during which time your eye is healing. In some individuals, another type of vision correction may be chosen to further enhance the vision.

Two common Phakic lenses used at Minnesota Eye Consultants are the Visian ICL and the Verisyse IOL. The advantage of Phakic lenses is that they can correct your vision, yet no natural tissue is removed in any way during the procedure. If for the unlikely reason you need or wish to remove your Phakic lens implant in the future, you have the option to do so.

Visian ICL

The Visian ICL is inserted behind the iris and in front of your natural lens. Similar to cataract surgery, this procedure is typically performed one eye at a time. There is very little discomfort and normally no pain associated with the surgery. You’ll be instructed to use eye drops following and we’ll see you back the following day for a follow-up visit.

The Visian Toric ICL was approved by the FDA in 2018 for moderate to high levels of myopia and astigmatism, offering a solution to yet another group of individuals.

Verisyse™ IOL

When using the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL during surgery, the lens is placed behind your cornea and on top of your iris. This gives your eye another focusing lens that provides high-quality vision more similar to a normal eye. This procedure is very similar to the Visian ICL in many ways. We again treat one eye at a time and prescribe eye drop medications following the surgery.

A Natural Lens Replacement (NLR) is essentially cataract surgery without the actual cataract present. (Some also refer to this procedure as a Clear Lens Extraction or CLE.) Because there isn’t a cataract present (or developed enough for insurance to deem the surgery as ‘medically necessary’), this procedure is considered elective and out-of-pocket.

It is, however, a great option for patients who aren’t ideal candidates for Laser Vision Correction. For example, for some patients with high refractive errors outside the treatable range, or those who have some cataract formation already, a Natural Lens Replacement can be an effective refractive surgery alternative.

During this procedure, the natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens of your choice. Your physician will educate you on the various lens options to choose from, but depending on your visual goal, a specialty lens may be recommended.

In some patients, a Multifocal or Extended Depth of Focus lens may be helpful in improving distance at various ranges, while others may opt for distance vision (or near) in both eyes. Another common selection is MonoVision, where one eye is corrected for near vision and the other eye for distance. Talk with your surgeon about what lens options are best for you, considering your personal vision goals following surgery.

KAMRA Corneal Inlay is an eye procedure that restores near vision and frees you from the constant frustrations of reading glasses. The inlay is a tiny ring-shaped device with a small opening in the center that creates what we call a “pinhole effect”. This inlay is placed in one eye only and allows you to see up close while still maintaining your normal distance vision. For more information about this procedure and how this technology works, visit our Near Vision / Reading Vision Correction Center.

Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK) is performed to treat astigmatism by reshaping the curvature of the cornea through small incisions. These tiny incisions will flatten the steep portion of the cornea, making the eye more spherical. AK can be used as an enhancement following laser eye surgery, PRK, cataract, or lens implant surgery. Most astigmatism, though, is still corrected with the excimer laser. For more information on AK, visit our Other Cornea Procedures page.