What is involved with refractive eye surgery? How does your vision get better and why?

Refractive eye surgery is any of several microsurgical approaches to alter the anatomy and physiology of the human eye to provide better focusing power with less or no further dependence upon artificial optical devices such as glasses and contact lenses.

Probably the best known is LASIK which (along with PRK and SMILE) reshape the cornea. But there are other surgical techniques such as lens implants. One of these, the ICL, is inserted into the eye over the natural lens to enhance its focusing ability. Another is PreLex™ which actually removes and replaces the natural lens with an artificial one designed to provide better focusing ability both at distance and at near.

While all of these are very successful with a high degree of success and patient satisfaction, none of them will provide visual quality quite as fine as the natural cornea and lens in a young person along with the appropriate anatomy.

Written by J. Trevor Woodhams, M.D. - Chief of Surgery, Woodhams Eye Clinic