| e consideration of refractive surgery is a major | | | | FDA sponsored study underway to verify these |
| decision in ones life that requires substantial | | | | earlier claims. Thus far the preliminary results in |
| research by the patient and a comprehensive | | | | year two of the five year study appear to |
| consultation with an eye doctor. All options should | | | | confirm that Orthokeratology does indeed reduce |
| be considered and a thorough refractive | | | | the progression of myopia in children. |
| consultation should include the pros and cons of all | | | | Refractive surgery |
| of the options under consideration. The role of | | | | Refractive surgery is a very popular option for |
| your eye doctor will be to help you focus on | | | | reducing a patient's dependency on glasses, |
| which option or options best fulfill your visual | | | | however, not everyone is a candidate for |
| needs. Here are the most common options. | | | | refractive surgery. Often contact lenses or |
| Glasses | | | | glasses are simply not an option for a patient. |
| This is the most common, safest and simplest | | | | Some occupations do not lend themselves well to |
| option and gives patients excellent, consistent | | | | contact lenses or glasses, for instance a very |
| vision. Sometimes the best solution is to do | | | | nearsighted professional diver or a person that |
| nothing at all. Any patient that has concerns about | | | | works in a dusty environment may find that |
| having refractive surgery should choose an | | | | wearing contact lenses is unsafe. |
| options that is not permanent. Let's face it | | | | The most popular refractive procedure is LASIK |
| though, sometimes glasses are a pain in the nose | | | | or Laser ASsisted In situ Keratomileusis, however, |
| and are just plain inconvenient. That said though, | | | | PRK or Photo Refractive Keratectomy is still very |
| all contact lens wearers should have a pair of | | | | popular as well. |
| glasses that they can fall back on when they can't | | | | Non laser refractive surgeries such as a |
| or should not be wearing their contact lenses. | | | | Refractive Lensectomy and Implantable Contact |
| Traditional Contact Lenses | | | | Lenses are also available, however they are not |
| Traditional contact lenses provide a number of | | | | nearly as popular as LASIK or PRK. There are a |
| options with variable replacement schedules from | | | | number of reasons why a person may not be a |
| soft contact lenses that are discarded daily, every | | | | candidate for LASIK or PRK |
| two weeks or monthly. There are also contact | | | | Why Not Have LASIK |
| lenses that can be safely worn overnight from 6 | | | | The most common contraindications to refractive |
| nights to as many as 30 consecutive nights. | | | | surgery are |
| Studies have shown that contact lens wear even | | | | - large pupil size |
| considering a lifetime of wear, is safer than | | | | - thin corneas |
| refractive surgery. Both soft and gas permeable | | | | - occupation |
| lenses can correct high amounts of | | | | - refractive error |
| nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness. | | | | - surgical expectations |
| Contact lenses can also correct presbyopia, | | | | - corneal dystrophies |
| allowing patients over 40 to see at both near and | | | | - age |
| far without bifocal glasses or reading glasses. | | | | In addition, some patients simply are not |
| The most common reason why patients report | | | | comfortable with having surgery on their eyes or |
| they can not wear contact lenses is because their | | | | are hesitant to undertake something such as |
| eyes are too dry. There are currently many new | | | | LASIK or PRK that is permanent. |
| treatments available to patients with dry eyes | | | | The best source of accurate, unbiased information |
| and a huge amount of research being done in this | | | | is your optometrist. Your optometrist has the |
| area. If you are a "contact lens dropout" consider | | | | benefit of being an expert in all of the options |
| having your eye doctor evaluate you for dry eye | | | | available to you. Should surgery be your best |
| syndrome. | | | | option your optometrist has the benefit of seeing |
| Orthokeratology | | | | the refractive results for all of the refractive |
| Also known as Ortho-K, Vision Shaping | | | | surgeons in the area and can best help you decide |
| Treatment, Corneal Refractive Therapy and the | | | | which corneal surgeon is best for you. In addition, |
| Gentle Vision Shaping System. Orthokeratology | | | | if your optometrist has been approved by the |
| uses specially made contact lenses that are worn | | | | FDA to fit the overnight Orthokeratology lenses it |
| while the patient sleeps to gently reshape the | | | | gives you an additional option to solve your |
| cornea allowing the light to be refocused in the | | | | refractive dilemma. Virtually all optometrist can fit |
| same way as LASIK. Adults as well as children | | | | patients with extended wear contact lenses which |
| are candidates for Ortho-K. Numerous studies | | | | can be a safe, non permanent refractive option. |
| have shown that an additional benefit of | | | | Research all of your options, consult your eye |
| Orthokeratology in children is that it appears to | | | | doctor and you will be making a complete, |
| markedly reduce the progression of | | | | informed decision. |
| nearsightedness (myopia). There is currently an | | | | |