Patients may not know which procedure is right for their particular vision problem.

The following list may help you decide which procedures best suit your vision needs.

Lasik

The most publicized and popular eye surgery procedure over the past several years has been LASIK. This surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure using a specialized Excimer laser, which allows the surgeon to sculpt the corneal tissue with a cool ultraviolet light.

There is very little pain and almost no downtime. This procedure is used to effectively correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. The Williamson Eye Center built the first laser vision center in Louisiana in 1995 and went on to develop its own special techniques for LASIK vision correction using the VISX laser system.

ICL

ICL stands for Intraocular Contact Lens. We were part of the FDA study for development of this lens implant to correct high levels of nearsightedness and farsightedness. These lenses are used for patients who are either too nearsighted or farsighted to be in the range for LASIK surgery for vision correction.

Refractive Lens Implants

A cataract is a cloudiness of the natural crystalline lens of the eye. This usually occurs naturally as people age. However, cataracts can also form following trauma or use of some medications.

Vision is blurred from the cataract until it is removed. It is common in this circumstance to implant an artificial lens into the eye. Called an IOL [intraocular lens], it replaces the patient’s natural lens. We pioneered cataract surgery under topical anesthesia with clear corneal incisions and we were one of the first in the world to perform this procedure which is now widely used throughout the United States. Usually this surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure using local topical drops. A patient may recover his vision the same day as surgery without being put to sleep and without the use of any stitches.

New in cataract surgery is the use of refractive lens implants. The ReStor lens and the ReZoom are multifocal lenses, which are implanted to correct far, near, and intermediate vision in patients who are having cataract surgery.

Crystalens

The most promising refractive lens, however, seems to be the Crystalens. This lens is actually able to focus or accommodate much like the natural lens. The Crystalens allows improvement of both distance and close vision. Many patients can do without their glasses after cataract surgery.

The final decision in choosing your best vision options is yours. When choosing a refractive procedure, the most important choice you make is to choose a highly qualified doctor with an educated team you can trust to fully inform you of the risks and benefits of these procedures.

Patients should understand the treatment options for their vision as well as significant differences between these technologies. Most of this technology is available to all doctors, and the cost of these procedures may vary greatly. Ultimately, the difference seems to be the quality of the surgeon and the technical expertise of the doctor who performs the procedure.

Your vision is your most precious gift. When it comes to your sight, you should avoid the high cost of cheap surgery.