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Other Vision Correction Services

With the availability of new iDesign Advanced Wavescan Studio System, more people who may not have been candidates for LASIK in the past, now qualify due to FDA approval of a wider range of optical correction. However, certain individuals may have less risk or better outcomes with an alternative vision correction procedure.

You may be considered for other vision correction options if you have:

  • High myopia (nearsightedness) or astigmatism (differently shaped cornea)
  • Relatively thin corneas
  • History of dry eyes
  • Previous eye surgery: radial keratotomy (RK), LASIK or a corneal transplant
  • Greater than average risk of future eye injury due to job or hobbies
  • A cataract, which is better managed by cataract surgery
  • Medical conditions that may be less safely treated by LASIK: herpes simplex eye infections, corneal scars or recurrent erosion syndrome

At your initial exam, your Surgical Specialist will evaluate your eyes and determine which procedure is best for you.

iDesign Machine

Procedures Available at OCB

Photorefractive Keratectomy was the first excimer laser vision correction treatment and remains the preferred technique for those who may not be optimal LASIK candidates. Like LASIK, PRK reshapes the cornea with a precise excimer laser beam, but is distinct in that it does not involve the creation of a corneal flap. Instead, the outer layer of the cornea, the epithelium, is removed and allowed to naturally regenerate in a few days. PRK is a treatment option for patients with high myopia (nearsightedness) and/or astigmatism, thin corneas, treated dry eyes, prior RK, LASIK or corneal transplants, patients with a high risk of ocular injury and medical conditions that may make them less suitable for treatment by LASIK.

Laser Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis is a procedure that ¬¬combines aspects of PRK and LASIK. Like LASIK and PRK, LASEK reshapes the cornea with a precise excimer laser beam, but is distinct from LASIK in that it does not involve the creation of a corneal flap and from PRK in that the epithelium is preserved and replaced at the end of surgery. LASEK is a treatment option for patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. It is not as commonly performed, compared to LASIK or PRK, which offer similar results.

Astigmatic Keratotomy is a procedure used to reduce astigmatism, a condition in which the shape of the cornea is oblong rather than round, producing visual distortion. AK works by reshaping the cornea through tiny peripheral incisions, created with either a diamond blade or femtosecond laser, into a more spherical shape.  AK is a treatment option that may be used alone or in conjunction with other vision correction procedures.

An Implantable Collamer Lens, sometimes called an Implantable Contact Lens, is a flexible gel-like lens that is permanently placed inside the eye. It corrects refractive errors without tissue removal or lens extraction. ICL’s are typically used to treat higher degrees of nearsightedness and farsightedness in patients who may not be good candidates for LASIK.

Accommodating and Multifocal Intraocular Lenses are appropriate for cataract surgery patients, who because of their lifestyle, job, or hobbies would like a more natural range of vision than that offered through a standard monofocal IOL. If you require treatment for cataracts, you and your doctor may want to discuss the risks and benefits of these lens options to see if they are right for you.

To schedule a vision correction consultation, please complete our on-line “Make an Appointment” form or contact one of our Surgical Specialists.

Each patient has unique visual characteristics and requires the consultation of a qualified eye surgeon before determining what treatment modality is best. Vision correction may not be right for everyone. The information provided here is only meant to communicate information as a general educational service. It is not intended as a substitute for the health care advice provided by a board certified physician.

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50 Staniford Street,
Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114

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