Corrective Vision

At Columbus Eye Clinic, our doctors offer several options for correcting vision irregularities. There are three main types of refractions: myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness and astigmatism. Persons with myopia have more difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. Patients with hyperopia experience difficulty viewing near objects clearly. With astigmatism, images become distorted due to the irregular shape of the cornea.

LASIK- Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis

What is LASIK?

LASIK, (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is one treatment used to correct refractive errors. During the procedure, the cornea, the clear covering lens of the eye, is reshaped to promote better vision. Similar to a camera lens, the cornea helps focus light to produce an image on the retina. During LASIK, a special laser removes corneal tissue, thus impacting its focusing power.

What should I do before the procedure?

Prior to surgery, you should stop wearing your contact lenses and wear glasses full time. Contacts alter the shape of your cornea. Not giving your cornea adequate time to assume its natural shape can yield inaccurate measurements, thus stimulating a poor surgical plan and resulting in poor vision following surgery. Do not apply lotions, creams, makeup or perfumes the day before surgery. These products may increase the risk of infection. Because your vision may be impaired after surgery, arrange for someone to drive you home.

What should I expect during and after the procedure?

The procedure should take less than 30 minutes. Once the area around your eye is cleaned and your eye is numbed, an instrument called a lid spectrum will be used to hold your eyelid open. The doctor will place a ring on your eye. Very high pressure will stimulate a suction action to the ring. You may experience dimness to your vision and discomfort from the pressure. The doctor will use a cutting mechanism, known as a microkeratome to cut a flap in the cornea. The microkeratome is attached to the ring.

Once the microkeratome and the ring are removed, you may experience blurred vision throughout the remainder of the procedure. Once the doctor accurately places the laser over your eye, the laser will remove the pre-programmed amount of corneal tissue. After that, the flap will be put back into position. A protective shield will be placed over your eye. It is important that you wear this shield to prevent you from rubbing your eye and protect it until the flap has healed.

Once the surgery is complete, you may experience itching, burning, mild pain, sensitivity to light or other conditions, including hazy or blurred vision. These symptoms should improve. Contact our office if you experience severe pain or the symptoms worsen. At your first post-operative visit, your doctor may remove the protective shield, examine your eye and test your vision. Unless your doctor advises otherwise, wait two weeks after surgery before applying lotions, creams or makeup around the eye. Do not attempt to participate in strenuous sport activities for at least four weeks after surgery.

Your vision might fluctuate for the first few months following surgery and may stabilize within three to six months. Should you develop any new or worsening symptoms, do not hesitate to contact us.

Are there any risks associated with LASIK ?

Like any other medical procedure, there are risks involved. Some patients may lose vision that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lens or surgery, due to treatment. Glasses or contact lens, although a weaker prescription, may be needed following LASIK. Some patients may develop double vision, which can impair nighttime vision. LASIK may also affect your eye’s ability to produce an adequate amount of tears to keep the eye lubricated. Known as dry eye syndrome, this can cause discomfort, blurring or other visual impairments. The conditions may be permanent. Eye drops or other methods may be necessary to treat the syndrome.

PRK-Photorefractive Keratectomy

What is PRK?

Photorefractive Keratectomy, also known as surface abalation, was invented in the 1980s. It was the first laser refractive surgery approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1995. Prior to LASIK, PRK was the most common laser procedure used to correct vision irregularities. PRK is a good option for patients with moderately dry eyes or whose corneas may be too thin for LASIK.

What should I do before the procedure?

Prior to the surgery, your doctor will conduct a full eye exam and discuss your vision history. The doctor will get an accurate measurement of the refraction and the thickness of your pupil and cornea. Patients who wear hard contact lenses should avoid wearing them two to three weeks before the exam. Soft contact lens wearers should avoid wearing them a week before the exam. Contacts alter the shape of your cornea. Not giving your cornea adequate time to assume its natural form can yield inaccurate measurements, thus stimulating a poor treatment plan, as well as poor results.

What should I expect during and after the procedure?

Unlike LASIK, during PRK, no incision is needed to reshape the cornea. Instead, once the top layer of the cornea is gently removed, the excimer laser evaporates microscopic portions of the cornea to change the shape. Most patients do not feel any pain and the procedure usually takes around 15 minutes. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye.

After the treatment is complete, a contact lens is placed on the eye. It will act as a bandage during the healing process. Patients may experience different degrees of discomfort as the anesthetic wears off. You may experience sensitivity to light or redness. Immediately after the procedure, you may be farsighted. Although, compared to LASIK, the recovery process is longer; your vision should gradually improve.

Do not remove the contact lens for any reasons. If it falls out, do not reinsert it. This increases the risk of infection. Do not rub or bump your eye. Prescribed eye drops and a pain medication should alleviate any discomfort. Resume driving only when advised by your doctor. Most people can return to work a week after surgery. Do not apply eye make-up or lotions around the eye for at least a week. You may resume normal exercise a few days following the procedure.

Are there any risks associated with PRK?

There is a chance that the refraction will be over or under corrected. This may require adjustment. Slight scarring and infection is also a possibility.

CK-Conductive Keratoplasty

What is CK?

CK is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radio waves, instead of lasers to correct problems with near vision. Unlike LASIK, there is no need to cut the cornea. Potential candidates for CK include patients who are farsighted (hyperopia) or experience presbyopia. Persons with presbyopia find it difficult to see objects that are close-up, prompting the need for reading glasses. Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process. The elasticity of the lens of the eye decreases with age. The eyes ability to focus properly depends on the elasticity of the lens.

What should I do before the procedure?

Prior to CK, the doctor will determine the extent of your vision irregularity by performing a complete eye exam. Patients who wear hard contact lenses should avoid wearing them two to three weeks before the exam. Soft contact lens wearers should avoid wearing them a week before exam. Contacts alter the shape of your cornea. Not giving your cornea adequate time to assume its natural shape can yield inaccurate measurements, thus stimulating a poor treatment plan, as well as poor results.

What should I expect during and after the procedure?

The procedure takes less than three minutes. After the anesthetic (eye drops) are applied to numb the eye, a small probe will be applied that will transmit radio frequencies in a circular pattern along the outer cornea, to shrink small areas of the tissue. The circular shrinkage increases the curve of the cornea. The procedure is painless. Patients may experience some pressure on the eye. After treatment there may be some mild discomfort. Many patients experience a “scratchiness” sensation on the first day or so following the procedure. The first week after CK, you may have pain, tearing or sensitivity to light.

Any fluctuation in vision will gradually subside within a few weeks. Although you will notice immediate improvements to your vision, it usually takes a few weeks for your vision to completely adjust to the treatment. Avoid rubbing your eyes for the first two weeks. Female patients should wait a week before applying eye makeup. When exercising, be sure to keep sweat out of the eye for at least a week after the procedure.

You may return to work the next day, but we recommend you take a few days off. As with any refractive procedure, CK does not guarantee perfect results. Most patients do not need corrective lenses. However, depending on your age, you may need reading glasses or additional treatment.

Are there any risks associated with CK?

Because CK is a minimally invasive, risks are minimal. Patients may experience discomfort or tearing the first two days following the treatment. However, because CK does not require any cutting of the eye tissue, many of the side effects associated with other procedures, such as infection, have not been observed with CK.