LASIK vs. RLE

You have lost your glasses for the hundredth time; you are patting the piles of papers on your desk in desperate search to find them. They must be here somewhere, you think. You are becoming more and more frustrated because you need them to read this important document that is due by the end of the day. That’s it, you think, I’m going to get LASIK and correct my farsightedness once and for all. But is LASIK the best option for you?

Here at Wilmarth Eye and Laser Center, Northern California’s vision specialist, we can help you determine what procedure you need to correct your vision and resolve the forever search for the missing glasses case once and for all.

What Type of Vision Correction Do I Need?

While LASIK is a well-known corrective eye surgery, you may actually be a better candidate for Refractive Lens Exchange.

LASIK is a permanent vision correction using a laser to reshape the corneal tissue causing the visual errors. LASIK is used to most commonly treat the following vision problems:

• Astigmatism

• Nearsightedness  (myopia)

• Farsightedness (hyperopia)

• Loss of near vision (presbyopia)

LASIK, a safe treatment with a high success rate provides vision improvement almost immediately. There is minimal downtime following LASIK and the procedure has little pain associated with it.

Refractive Lens Exchange, or RLE, is an additional option to treat vision problems. During the RLE procedure, an intraocular lens (IOL) replaces your eyes natural lens. The IOL restores your vision to clarity and sharpness.

RLE permanently corrects vision problems including:

• Nearsightedness (myopia)

• Farsightedness (hyperopia)

• Loss of near vision due to age (presbyopia)

While LASIK and RLE can resolve similar vision troubles, RLE restores vision in severe cases of myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia. After a period of time, these conditions become severe enough that LASIK is not successful.

Like LASIK, vision restoration after receiving RLE is typically immediate. There is a short recovery time and the IOL can be exchanged for one with a different power to help you achieve the desired vision outcome you are expecting.

If you live in the Northern California area including the Greater Sacramento area, Roseville, Rocklin and Folsom and have been contemplating a vision correction procedure, contact Wilmarth Eye and Laser Center today to schedule a consultation. Dr. Stephen Wilmarth and his associates will diagnose which procedure is best for you and help you achieve that clear, crisp vision, glasses-free, that you deserve.