Lens Replacement Surgery: Lasik Alternative or Complement?
Published March 21st, 2006 in AlternativesAccording to a recent press release by a New York eye surgeon, the ReSTOR® Lens Replacement Surgery has a 95% success (in correction) rate – on par at least, with any competing eye correction surgical procedure, e.g. LASIK eye correction surgery. But before we go any further with this statistic, let’s delve into the basics of Lens Replacement Surgery. What is Lens Replacement Surgery? What does it solve? Is it a LASIK alternative or a complement? How safe is it?
Well, Lens Replacement Surgery (LRS) is a surgical procedure aimed at treating lens problems, such as presbyopia, unlike LASIK which attempts to treat corneal problems. However, it does involve one major procedural similarity with LASIK. Like LASIK, it requires an incision to be made at the outer edge of a patient’s cornea. As a result, LRS cannot claim to be flap-free.
Once the incision is made though, Lens Replacement Surgery is a different animal altogether. A microscopic device is inserted to remove your natural crystalline lens, and replace it with a Multifocal Lens Implant from brands like ReSTOR®, ReZoom™ & Crystalens™. But while the surgical procedure is common among the different brands, the technology involved is different. Each brand has its own optical design, with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Safety-wise, Lens Replacement Surgery is almost similar to LASIK, though LASIK advocates would point to the fact that Lens Replacement Surgery is far less established compared to LASIK. Most eye doctors providing Lens Replacement Surgery have only around one year’s worth of experience (since LRS is a relatively new procedure).
More importantly, it should be noted that Lens Replacement Surgery is generally a complement to LASIK, rather than an alternative, given that LASIK treats corneal problems while Lens Replacement Surgery treats lens problems. But considering that lens problems tend to occur among the older generation, where LASIK is not targeted for, Lens Replacement Surgery seems to be neither a complement nor an alternative, but a lone solution.
[News via eMediaWire]
Doctor failed to explain details and differences between the Lasix surgery and Lens replacement to me the Patient. Lens replacement was not understood by me until after the first (R) eye lens implant was completed. Vision in (R) eye is improved seeing distant objects
without glasses. However lens edges are visible when orb is moved side to side. Close vision in (R) eye not improved . Several months later, after reading handout by the Doctor, relying on his assurance the left eye vision would be similarly improved, assented to a lens replacement in (L) eye. After surgery,now the new left lens creates double vision image when used inconcert with the right (R)lens..
Were pre-op measurements for new (L) lens correct ?
Cost $3000. each eye …Loss of focus..depth perception ..aquity.
Loss of balance while walking, dizzyness an vertigo when standing
Left eye now with eye patch in effort to see computer or TV.
Medicare declines to pay for new RX glasses.(time delay between operations) cost $480.00 ..prisims to reallign (R)(L) focal points.
and on ,and on it goes..
Vision problems = Lots of stress for elder patients trying to avoid falls.Do your best to play the game with the cards God gives you.
Good luck,…stay well.
FLOODMUD