Alternative Procedures

The vast majority of patients who want freedom from their glasses and contact lenses consider laser vision correction. However, not everyone is a good candidate for such treatment, and fortunately for a lot of them there are—or soon will be—alternatives.

At Optical Express we offer a free consultation as well as advice and treatment for a wide range of eye conditions such as:

Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)

Available since 1996, this treatment involves the insertion of a small lens into the eye. It is anchored in front of the natural lens behind the pupil of the eye and functions much like a traditional contact lens, except that it is left in the eye indefinitely and cannot be seen or felt by the patient. This method allows the eye to continue focusing naturally while safely adjusting the patient's refractive error to provide excellent image quality. It can be removed at any time, providing a totally reversible procedure. Surgical results are effective immediately, with only a short recovery period.

Phakic Intraocular Lens (Phakic IOL)

Phakic IOL implants are a safe and effective option for patients with high degrees of nearsightedness or farsightedness, or who have thin corneas and are unsuitable for laser eye surgery. Phakic lens surgery is similar to the implantable contact lens (ICL) in that an additional artificial lens is gently implanted in the eye to correct the refractive error. The results are immediate; the natural focusing ability of the eye remains, and the procedure is fully reversible.

Cataract Surgery

A cataract forms when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing vision to deteriorate. While there are factors that may contribute to the formation of cataracts, this phenomenon is a natural part of the aging process, like graying hair and the loss of close-up vision (presbyopia). Cataract surgery is a safe operation, performed on thousands of people each week. Furthermore, over 14 million procedures are performed annually worldwide - that's more than any other surgical procedure. Recent advances in microsurgical techniques and new developments in IOL treatments further contribute to the success of the operation which leads to the restoration of your vision.

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

This procedure is similar to cataract surgery. Where cataract surgery is necessary to replace a cloudy lens which gives poor vision, in a refractive lens exchange procedure the same lens (which may not be cloudy) is removed and replaced to correct your prescription. In cataract surgery the new lens is often of similar power to the existing one, whereas in refractive lens procedures the power of the new lens is calculated to compensate for your glasses or contact lens prescription.

To ascertain which of these alternative procedures will best improve your vision, you will have an in-depth consultation with an Ophthalmic Doctor. The doctor will determine what will be of most benefit to you, explain the procedure in detail, and answer all your questions so you can make an informed decision.