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Refractive Surgery

Refractive eye surgery is optional eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This can include various methods of surgical remodeling of the cornea (keratomileusis), lens implantation or lens replacement. The most common methods today use excimer lasers to reshape the curvature of the cornea. Refractive eye surgeries are used to treat common vision disorders such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism.

LASIK

LASIK is the most common form of refractive surgery today in the United States.  Two lasers are used for this procedure; a femtosecond laser is used to create a corneal flap with excellent precision and an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea to correct the refractive error specific to the patient.  LASIK can treat most forms of Myopia, Hyperopia, and astigmatism.  Please click on the AAO LASIK link to learn more about this procedure.  Dr. Godbole is trained on multiple laser platforms to include the VisuMax, iFS Intralase, Wavelight EX500 and the VISX STAR S4 with iDesign.  

SMILE

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SMILE is the newest form of refractive surgery for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism. SMILE is not approved for the treatment of hyperopia so LASIK will be the only option for these patients.  This procedure only uses one type of laser; a VisuMax femtosecond laser createdby Carl Zeiss proprietary technology is used to create a small lenticule of tissue which is removed through a small incision in the cornea. This incision is significantly smaller than the incision made by LASIK or PRK which can theoretically decrease the chance of dry eye induced by refractive surgery and eliminate the risk of dislocating the cornea flap which is created by LASIK.  To learn more about this procedure please read the AAO SMILE Link.   

PRK

Photorefractive Keratectomy is the first laser assisted refractive surgery approved by the FDA.  Today this is considered an excellent alternate proceudre to LASIK.  PRK is preformed by reomoving the skin layer of the cornea with either a brush or alcohol.  An excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea precisly to your prescription.  Although the long term outcomes are the same as LASIK the recovery time is much longer and there is more discomfort associated with PRK.  PRK can treat most forms of Myopia, Hyperopia, and astigmatism.  Please click on the AAO PRK link to learn more about this procedure.  Dr. Godbole is trained on multiple laser platforms to include the VisuMax, iFS Intralase, Wavelight EX500 and the VISX STAR S4 with iDesign.  

ICL

Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL) are designed for people with high degrees of refractive errors that cannot be safely corrected with corneal-based refractive surgery. The ICL, sometimes referred to as an implantable contact lens, or ICL, is surgically implanted inside the eye in front of the eye's natural lens. The eye's natural lens is not removed, so patients can retain their pre-existing ability to focus. Once the ICL is properly positioned inside the eye, it provides the necessary correction to redirect light rays precisely onto the retina. This procedure is indicated for patients with high degrees of nearsightedness and some forms of astigmatism.  

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange (RLE):

Artificial lenses are used to replace your eye's natural lens in order to improve vision. The procedure is performed much like cataract surgery. As is an option in cataract surgery, RLE may employ multifocal or accommodative intraocular lenses (IOLs). These lenses allow the ability to focus at all distances.

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Some people who have early stage cataracts may choose to have RLE instead of waiting for their cataracts to progress to the point where they should be removed. This is because the lens implants generally provide them with better uncorrected vision at that point, particularly if they currently need vision correction.

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RLE may also be an option for people with severe hyperopia (farsightedness), for whom LASIK is not recommended.

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RLE is not FDA-approved, however, ophthalmologists legally may choose to perform this procedure in what is called an "off-label" use.

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To learn more, please review my page on Cataract Surgery

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