Non-surgical Alternatives to LASIK

Afraid of laser vision surgery? Or lasik is just not for you? Then you might want to consider some non-surgical alternatives to lasik such as contact lenses, orthokeratology (ortho-k), or, keep it classic with good old eyeglasses. Much cheaper than the surgery, these are less aggressive options to your eyesight problems. Unlike refractive eye surgery, these less risky options give you the benefit of reversibility.

Setting LASIK aside, contact lenses have come a long way from what it used to be. There are now a huge variety of contact lenses design whether it's for usual or special needs. They are now available in bifocal prescriptions. And, sensitive eyes even have the option of extra thin lenses. There are soft, comfortable lenses that you can discard after a day or a month, and rigid gas permeable lenses that can last years and provide sharper, clearer vision than soft lenses.

Soft lenses

Probably the most comfortable lens for the eye and also the easier to adapt to the soft lenses are also more expansive than the rigid lenses over a long period of time. If you are using soft lenses, you can compare with lasik how many soft lenses it would cost you to go for lasik.

Rigid lenses

More durable than soft lenses but it takes more time to adapt to them. They are more resistant to buildup of deposits. LASIK deals with astigmatism. With rigid contacts, you can differentiate between the left and right eyes and select toric lenses for astigmatism. Seven-day continuous wear lenses and 30-day continuous wear lenses have recently been approved by the FDA.

Ortho-k

LASIK uses surgery to change the shape of the cornea. Ortho-K is just another type of operation to train the shape of the cornea instead of reshaping it. It uses rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Basically this improves the eyes's abilitity to refract light and focus. Although Ortho-K cannot be permanant, a person's vision can can still improve drastically with continued use. It could go up to 20/40 or even 20/20 vision.

In the beginning of the Ortho-K therapy, the contact lenses are worn about eight hours each day. After eye correction surgery, vision improvement occurs in days. With Ortho-K, as the cornea changes shape over the weeks, improving the vision, the lenses are worn less frequently. Wearing time shortens to a few hours at a stretch every few days. Stopping the use of the Ortho-K lenses causes the corneas to revert to their original state. Occasionaly, the effects of LASIK may fade, too.

Clarity of vision may fluctuate, and it may take several months to change the vision measurably. Accelerated Ortho-K therapy may be used to get the desired effect more rapidly. If you are among those that have a low level of nearsightedness and/or small astigmatism, then Ortho-K would fit you like a shoe.

Good Old Eyeglasses

If LASIK or contact lenses are not for you, there is another alternative. Sticking with your eyeglasses may be the choice you need to make. Eyeglass frames are more durable and flexible than ever. Lenses are lighter, stronger, more scratch resistant. New options for glasses include tinting that changes more rapidly, progressive bifocal lenses, anti-reflective coatings, UV protection and greater impact resistance.

Some advantages to this option are less expense than contact lenses or LASIK surgery, greater ease in changing your mind, and fashion-forward styling. The greatest benefit may be the guarantee that the good eyesight they have provided to you for years can continue indefinitely.

If you cannot have laser vision surgery now, or even if you never choose to have that procedure, these are viable, safe, money-saving choices. Even if you decide to have LASIK surgery at some future date, choosing contact lenses, Ortho-K therapy, or eyeglasses can keep you going until you make that decision.