Refractive Surgery is Vision Correction
Vision correction procedures reduce your dependence upon glasses.
We perform vision correction procedures to correct distance vision and other refractive procedures to improve your reading vision. The goal is to get you “glasses free.”
There are many different types of vision correction procedures, but all fall into one of two categories. There are refractive procedures for the:
- Cornea
- Lens
For our purposes, vision correction procedures are synonymous with refractive surgery. Both refer to procedures which change your refraction, that is, your overall need for glasses.
The Cornea and the Lens
There are only two structures in the eye responsible for focusing light. The cornea is responsible for about 75% of the total focusing power of the eye. Technically speaking, it’s the curvature of the surface of the cornea which focuses most of the light. Small changes in the curvature translate into large “refractive” changes in the eye.
The lens also focuses light, but not to the magnitude of the cornea. Changing the power of the lens is another way to alter the refractive power of the eye, i.e. make you less nearsighted.
Corneal Vision Correction Procedures
The goal of all corneal vision correction procedures is to change the curvature of the cornea. Examples of refractive procedures involving the cornea are:
- LASIK
- Radial Keratotomy (RK)
- Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
- LASEK
- others
The above procedures change the corneal curvature (and hence your refraction) by creating incisions (RK) or by reshaping the cornea with a laser.
Cataract Surgery is Refractive Surgery
The most common type of refractive surgery, or vision correction surgery, is cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, the cataract is removed and is usually replaced with a clear plastic implant. At times, we can alter the power of the implant and change your need for glasses.
For instance, before cataract surgery, a patient may have a large degree of nearsightedness or astigmatism. We are often able to select a power of the intraocular implant to make the patient less nearsighted, and possibly, decrease astigmatism.
Premium implants are specialized implants geared for vision correction. For instance, toric implants can be used to reduce significant amounts of astigmatism.
The Symfony IOL is indicated for patients who need cataract surgery and desire to be free from both distance glasses and reading glasses.
Call us to make an appointment or Email Us!!
We look forward to seeing you.
Gregory Scimeca, M.D.
Ophthalmologist and Medical Director
Burlington County Eye Physicians
Eye Professionals, LLC (Millville, NJ)
Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Bucks County (Langhorne, PA)