4 Types of Vision Correction Surgery Offered at ICON Eyecare in Grand Junction

March 1st, 2022
After Cataract Surgery

If you are suffering from blurry or distorted vision, nearsightedness, or farsightedness, you may be an excellent candidate for vision corrective surgery. At Grand Junction ICON Eyecare, our professional team offers comprehensive eye care services including diagnosis and treatment of common eyesight issues. Our most popular treatment options include cataract surgery, LASIK, PRK, and CLE/RLE.

To find out if you qualify for any of these treatments, you can easily schedule a consultation with our ICON Eyecare team. Meanwhile, you may learn about each of our vision correction procedures below. We will discuss each treatment’s defining characteristics and purpose, eligibility considerations, procedure, and recovery time.

1. LASIK Surgery

What Is LASIK Surgery?

One of the most popular types of laser vision surgeries is LASIK surgery. LASIK is corrective vision surgery that utilizes a laser tool to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea. When the cornea is in the proper shape, the eye can refract light rays properly and your vision improves. (Goodbye contacts and glasses!)

Who Is a Candidate for LASIK Surgery?

LASIK surgery may be a great option for you if:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You suffer from up to -12 diopters of nearsightedness, up to +6 of farsightedness, or up to 6 diopters for astigmatism.
• Your cornea has a thickness of between 450-550 microns.
• Your prescription has been stable for 2 years or more.
• You are healthy.
• You do not suffer from dry eyes.
• You do not suffer from inflammation disorders of the cornea.

There may be other factors that play a role in determining if you should proceed with LASIK surgery. It is best to consult professionals, such as the ICON Eyecare team, to receive a thorough evaluation and consultation. We use the latest testing and mapping devices, Contoura® and Vario, to ensure that you are eligible and to create treatment specific to your eyes.
Take our LASIK self-test online today!

How Is LASIK Surgery Procedure and Recovery?

Our ICON Eyecare team uses advanced laser vision technology to complete LASIK procedures, particularly the Wavelight® laser suite.

Here’s how it works:

1. The eye surgeon will begin by placing a local anesthetic into the eye, to numb the area.
2. Next, they will use a laser to make a small incision in the front of the eye to create a flap.
3. Then, they will fold the flap back to reveal the cornea for reshaping with the laser.
4. Depending on the type of eye disorder, the surgeon will reshape the cornea in different ways.
5. After the procedure is complete, which takes around 15 minutes, they will lay the flap back.
6. You will not need any stitches, as the flap will heal quickly on its own.

Complete recovery time is dependent on the person, although many patients will enjoy clear vision within the first 24 hours after surgery. Some may take a few days to a few weeks to fully heal.

2. PRK

What Is the PRK Procedure?

There are many scenarios where patients dealing with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism do not qualify for LASIK surgery. In some cases, they may be eligible for the PRK procedure or Photorefractive Keratectomy. In many ways, PRK is similar to LASIK as the surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea, such that your eye can properly bend light to the retina. However, PRK does not require the surgeon to use a laser or blade to cut a flap. Rather, they use the laser right on the surface of the cornea.

Who Is a Candidate for PRK?

You may be a great candidate for the PRK procedure if:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You suffer from up to -12 diopters of nearsightedness, up to +6 of farsightedness, or up to 4 diopters for astigmatism.
• You have healthy eyes and corneas.
• Your prescription has been stable for 2 years or more.
• You do not suffer from inflammation disorders of the cornea.

Whereas PRK may be preferable over LASIK in many situations, it is important to discuss your needs and lifestyle with our experienced and qualified eyecare team prior to opting for PRK. Our ICON Eyecare specialists will find a procedure that’s suitable for you.

How Is the PRK Surgery Procedure and Recovery?

When you arrive for your PRK surgery, you can expect the Grand Junction ICON Eyecare surgeons to complete the procedure in 10-15 minutes. First, your surgeon will use a local anesthetic to numb your eye. They will use a laser or liquid solution, depending on your particular situation, to remove the epithelium or the outermost layer of the cornea. Then, the surgeon will use a laser to shape the cornea in the appropriate manner. After, the surgeon may place a temporary contact lens to protect the eye during the healing process. Full recovery and stable, improved vision may take a few weeks to half a year.

3. CLE

What Is the CLE Procedure?

CLE (Clear Lens Exchange) or RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) may be a feasible procedure that can improve your vision. It is a particularly excellent option for those who suffer from severe farsightedness, and have presbyopia, a gradual farsightedness disorder that most commonly affects those 40 or older. It is also a popular treatment for people who do not qualify for LASIK or PRK.

CLE is similar to Cataract Surgery, where the surgeon will remove the natural lens of the eye and replace it with an IOL or intraocular lens. Your Grand Junction ICON Eyecare surgeon will be able to discuss your IOL options with you. Typically, we offer a choice between multifocal and toric lenses for our CLE patients.

Who Is a Candidate for CLE?

You may qualify for CLE or RLE if:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You suffer from up to high farsightedness, farsightedness combined with astigmatism or presbyopia.
• You are prone to developing cataracts.
• You do not suffer from nearsightedness unrelated to presbyopia.
• You have a thin cornea, so you are ineligible for LASIK.
Our ICON Eyecare team will be happy to schedule a thorough consultation for you to determine if CLE is the best treatment option for you.

How is the CLE Procedure and Recovery?

At ICON Eyecare, a Clear Lens Exchange is as quick as our other vision corrective procedures, typically around 15 minutes. Here’s what to expect:

1. First, the eye surgeon will place numbing anesthetic drops into your eye.
2. They will create a small incision in the eye, break up and suction the natural lens of the eye.
3. Then, your IOL of choice will be carefully placed and positioned in the eye to replace the natural lens.
4. The small incision will heal without stitches quickly, yet full recovery may take up to a month.

4. Cataract Surgery

What Is Cataract Surgery?

If you develop cataracts, which cloud your natural eye lens, you may benefit from cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, your eye surgeon will remove the natural lens containing cataracts and replace it with an intraocular lens. An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens that mimics the natural lens of the eye. At Grand Junction ICON Eyecare, we are proud to offer several types of lenses, specifically multifocal and toric. Each of these lenses provides particular benefits for the patient, so you can choose the best one for you.

• Multifocal IOLs: Multifocal IOLs allow eyes to focus on different distances: near-focus, mid-focus, and distant-focus. The brain and eye will work together to adjust to the proper focus just like with the natural lens. There are some limitations to multifocal IOLs, particularly if you have astigmatism or corneal issues.
• Toric IOLs: Toric IOLs have a unique shape, allowing for near and far-distance vision and correction of astigmatism depending on the specific chosen power and placement within the eye. When your eye surgeon implants a Toric IOL, they will choose a power and placement ideal for you.

Who Is a Candidate for Cataract Surgery?

Most people who have cataracts are eligible for cataract surgery, although there are specific scenarios where the ICON Eyecare team may suggest other forms of treatment. For instance, if you have severe eye problems along with cataracts, you may not benefit from cataract surgery to a great extent. That said, most people whose cataracts impact their vision and cause serious glare issues may take advantage of vision corrective surgery.

Feel free to take our cataract self-test!

Cataract Surgery Pros

How Is the Cataract Surgery Procedure and Recovery?

The cataract surgery procedure lasts about 20 minutes.

1. First, the surgeon will place local anesthetic drops to numb your eye.
2. Next, they will make a tiny non-invasive incision in the front of the eye.
3. They will use a small tool to break up the cataract and remove the damaged natural lens.
4. A new IOL is installed to replace your natural lens.
5. The surgeon will not need to stitch the incision (no stitches!), as it will naturally heal quickly on its own, and complete recovery will take about a month.

When you are suffering from vision issues, it can be challenging to navigate the treatment options available and determine if they are the proper selection. Our qualified and compassionate eye care team at Grand Junction, CO, can evaluate your vision and discuss your eye care treatment options with you. Contact ICON Eyecare today to set up a consultation today!

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Give us a phone call at (970) 256-0400 Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm to schedule a consultation.

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