How to sharpen your vision with elective procedures

Imagine opening your eyes in the morning and being able to see clearly. You wouldn’t have to wait to put on glasses or contacts, and there would be no more blurry showers nor forgetting where your glasses are.

Clear sight can be a reality with an elective procedure that fits your needs. Here are a few options that will help you ditch your glasses and contacts.

Laser vision correction

You’ve likely heard of LASIK, which corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, according to Schwartz Laser Eye Center. The goal is to reshape your cornea so it alters the way light enters your eye, and your vision becomes sharper and more focused.

“Laser vision correction with LASIK can be a life-changing experience,” Dr. Schwartz says. “By permanently correcting visual errors, LASIK reduces or eliminates your need for glasses and contact lenses. Focus improves, details sharpen and everyday tasks (like reading a text or glancing at the newspaper headlines) are more convenient.”

On the day of your procedure, you will receive anesthetic eye drops to ensure you won’t feel anything. You will watch a small light as the surgeon performs the procedure in about 5 minutes per eye.

Implantable contact lens

An implantable contact lens procedure known as Visian ICL can help with several visual impairments, including thin corneas, dry eyes, astigmatism, and nearsightedness.

“The Visian ICL offers unparalleled quality of vision, providing excellent contrast,” Dr. Schwartz says. “Two unique factors help explain this superior optical performance. First, the Visian ICL is made of Collamer — a soft, flexible lens material that contains a small amount of collagen — making the lens extremely biocompatible for a lifetime of clear vision. Second, the lens is placed inside of the eye, where it continues to focus light accurately without any maintenance required.”

ICL doesn’t change the structure of your eye and can be removed, if necessary, with a simple procedure. You won’t be able to see the implant, nor will others, so the only evidence will be the exceptional quality of your vision.

In preparation for your procedure, you will receive anesthetic drops and may also receive a sedative. The surgeon will make a microscopic incision where the white of your eye meets the colored part, then inject a gel-like substance before inserting the Visian ICL behind your iris. The surgeon will then remove the gel, and the incision will heal on its own. The procedure takes less than 5 minutes.

Clear lens extraction

Clear lens extraction is geared toward a limited number of impairments, such as age-related loss of vision, moderate to severe farsightedness, or those that aren’t a good candidate for other refractive procedures.

“During the procedure, the eye’s natural lens is replaced with a synthetic lens to restore sharper focus,” Dr. Schwartz says. “This often reduces the need to wear reading glasses or bifocals, and eliminates the need for future cataract surgery.”

The procedure is almost identical to cataract surgery. After being numbed with eyedrops, the procedure for your first eye takes less than 5 minutes. You’ll return three weeks later to repeat the procedure on your other eye.

An eye doctor can discuss your needs to help you figure out the best option. For more information and to make an appointment, visit schwartzlaser.com.