Should you replace your natural lens as an alternative to LASIK?

Our chief surgeon, Dr. J. Trevor Woodhams, answers this frequently asked question from Quora.com

Should you replace your natural lens as an alternative to LASIK?

Well, it depends on several things: 1) your age, 2) the focus problem you have (e.g.hyperopia, astigmatism or myopia), 3) how severe the problem in #2 is, 4) your tolerance for risk, and 5) how much money you are willing to spend.

LASIK gets increasingly disappointing the older you get. As the natural lens ages, it creates its own visual problems LASIK just can’t fix. if you are in your 50s, 60s, or older, LASIK may not treat enough of your focusing problem to be worth it-a refractive lens exchange may be better (albeit carrying somewhat more risk and expense). PreLex for example may be a better choice because it can take care of both distance and near problems. While the results are more permanent, there is definitely more risk and expense involved.

On the other hand, there is no IOL -intraocular lens -(so far) that functions as well as the natural lens God and Evolution provided us. So for people under 45 or so LASIK is usually the better choice. Until you reach your 50s.