Types of Refractive Surgery

If you’re tired of reaching for glasses first thing in the morning or dealing with contact lens discomfort, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are discovering the freedom that refractive surgery can provide. At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, we understand that choosing the right vision correction procedure can feel overwhelming—especially with so many options available today.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through every type of refractive surgery available, helping you make an informed decision about your vision future. Whether you’re dealing with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia, there’s likely a surgical solution that can dramatically improve your quality of life.

Understanding Refractive Surgery: Your Path to Clear Vision

Refractive surgery includes a range of advanced procedures that correct common vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, WA, our surgeons focus on precisely reshaping the eye’s cornea or lens. This adjustment allows light to focus directly on the retina, which is the essential foundation for achieving crisp, clear vision without dependence on glasses or contacts.

What Causes Refractive Errors?

Think of your eye functioning like a camera. The cornea and lens must focus light perfectly onto the retina to create a sharp image. A refractive error occurs when the shape of your eye is imperfect, causing light to focus incorrectly and resulting in blurred vision. Refractive surgery corrects this by:

• Reshaping the Cornea: Using lasers like in LASIK or PRK to adjust the clear front surface of your eye.

• Replacing the Natural Lens: Similar to cataract surgery, replacing the eye’s lens with an artificial one (IOL).

• Inserting a corrective implant, such as an ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens).

Are You a Candidate for Vision Correction?

Ideal candidates for refractive surgery at our Seattle clinic typically include adults who have:

• A stable vision prescription for at least one year.

• Healthy eyes, free from diseases like glaucoma or severe dry eye.

• Realistic expectations about what surgery can achieve.

• Generally, patients should be 18 or older, though exceptions exist for certain procedures.

Laser Vision Correction (LVC): Finding Your Best Procedure

At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, WA, we specialize in the latest laser vision correction procedures to free you from glasses and contacts. Discover which of these gold-standard treatments is right for your lifestyle and vision goals.

LASIK: The World’s Most Popular Vision Correction

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is the renowned procedure trusted by millions for its rapid recovery and exceptional results. Our Seattle surgeons utilize state-of-the-art technology to ensure a precise and comfortable experience.

How the LASIK Procedure Works:

1. A protective flap is created on the cornea’s surface using a precise femtosecond laser.

2. This flap is gently lifted to access the underlying corneal tissue.

3. A cool-beam excimer laser reshapes the cornea with microscopic accuracy.

4. The flap is repositioned, where it heals naturally without stitches.

Benefits of Choosing LASIK:

• Rapid Visual Recovery: Most patients see clearly and return to work within 24-48 hours.

• Minimal Discomfort: The quick, 15-minute procedure is performed with anesthetic eye drops.

• Proven Success Rates: Over 96% of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better.

• Long-Lasting Results: Enjoy stable, clear vision for decades.

2025 LASIK Innovations at Our Seattle Clinic:

• AI-Guided Treatment Planning: Customized procedures powered by artificial intelligence for unmatched precision.

• Topography-Guided LASIK: Tailored to the unique map of your cornea for potentially sharper vision.

• Enhanced Safety Screening: Advanced diagnostics ensure you are an ideal candidate.

Why Seattleites Love LASIK: Our city’s famous drizzle and sudden weather changes are no match for LASIK. Say goodbye to foggy glasses on rainy drives and water-spotted contacts during waterfront walks.

PRK: The Trusted, Flapless Alternative

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is an excellent flapless alternative, often recommended for patients with thinner corneas or very active lifestyles.

How PRK is Different:

• Instead of a flap, the eye’s outer surface (epithelium) is gently polished away.

• The same advanced excimer laser then reshapes the cornea.

• A protective contact lens bandage is placed while the surface heals naturally over several days.

Ideal Candidates for PRK:

• Individuals with thinner corneas for whom LASIK is not advised.

• Those in professions or sports (military, martial arts) where eye impact is a concern.

• Patients seeking a proven, flapless procedure with excellent long-term stability.

What to Expect During PRK Recovery:

• First Week: Vision is blurry with some mild discomfort as the surface heals.

• First Month: Vision clarity improves significantly week by week.

• Three Months: Most patients achieve their final, crystal-clear visual outcome.

Latest Advancements: Transepithelial PRK (T-PRK) uses the laser to remove the surface cells, enhancing precision and comfort.

SMILE: Minimally Invasive Laser Correction

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is the latest advancement, offering a flapless, keyhole approach that is excellent for those concerned about dry eye.

The SMILE Advantage:

• Minimally Invasive: A single, small 2mm incision preserves corneal integrity.

• Reduced Dry Eye: Disrupts fewer corneal nerves, leading to less post-operative dryness.

• Stronger Cornea: Maintains excellent biomechanical strength.

• Extremely Quick: The laser portion of the treatment takes less than 30 seconds.

Current Considerations:

• Primarily approved for nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism.

• Not currently for farsightedness (hyperopia) or reading vision (presbyopia).

AI Integration: Our surgeons use AI-driven nomograms to enhance the accuracy of SMILE, ensuring the best possible refractive outcome for our patients.

Advanced Lens-Based Procedures: Vision Correction Beyond the Surface

For patients who are not ideal candidates for laser surgery, or for those seeking a solution for age-related reading vision loss, advanced lens-based procedures offer a powerful alternative. At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, WA, our surgeons provide state-of-the-art implantable solutions for lasting clarity.

ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens): The Premier Reversible Option

The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) is a remarkable, reversible vision correction procedure. Think of it as placing a permanent, ultra-thin contact lens inside your eye. It’s an excellent choice for high prescriptions and offers a unique level of flexibility.

Key Benefits of ICL:

• Fully Reversible: The lens can be removed by a surgeon, preserving your eye’s natural anatomy.

• Corrects High Myopia: Effectively treats severe nearsightedness beyond the range of LASIK.

• Fast Recovery: Patients often experience dramatically clearer vision within a day or two.

• Built-In UV Protection: The Collamer® material includes a filter to shield your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Are You a Candidate for ICL?

This procedure is ideal for Seattle patients with:

• High myopia (typically between -3.0 to -20.0 diopters).

• Thin corneas make laser procedures unsuitable.

• Pre-existing dry eye patients who wish to avoid corneal surgery.

• A desire for a reversible vision correction option.

The ICL Procedure Experience:

Our Seattle team ensures a seamless process, from a comprehensive pre-operative scan to precisely measure your eye, to the brief, 20-minute outpatient surgery itself. The lens is inserted through a microscopic incision that self-seals, requiring no stitches.

Understanding ICL Cost in Seattle:

While ICL involves a higher investment than laser options, our patients find its exceptional visual quality and reversibility to be invaluable. Cannon EyeCare offers flexible financing plans to make this advanced treatment accessible.

RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange): The All-in-One Solution

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a versatile procedure that replaces your eye’s natural lens with an advanced artificial intraocular lens (IOL). It’s the ultimate solution for correcting refractive errors and preventing cataracts while also addressing age-related presbyopia (the need for reading glasses).

Why Our Seattle Patients Choose RLE:

• Ends Presbyopia: Premium lens options can restore clear vision at all distances—near, intermediate, and far.

• Permanent Cataract Prevention: By replacing the natural lens, you can never develop cataracts in the future.

• Lifelong Results: The artificial lens will never change or deteriorate, providing stable vision for life.

Advanced Lens Options at Our Seattle Clinic:

• Monofocal IOLs: Provide crystal-clear vision at one set distance (usually far).

• Multifocal IOLs: Features concentric rings to provide clear vision at multiple ranges, significantly reducing dependence on glasses.

• Accommodating IOLs: Designed to flex naturally with your eye’s muscles, allowing you to shift focus between distances.

Specialized & Emerging Vision Correction Procedures

At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, WA, we provide access to the latest innovations in vision correction, offering solutions for complex or unique vision conditions that go beyond standard laser treatments.

Intracorneal Implants: Reshaping Vision from Within

For patients with conditions like keratoconus or irregular astigmatism, intracorneal implants (such as INTACS®) offer a groundbreaking solution. These tiny, transparent arcs are inserted into the cornea to reshape it and restore a more normal, smooth optical surface.

Common Applications for Corneal Implants:

• Keratoconus Management: To stabilize the cornea and improve vision, often making patients eligible for specialized contact lenses.

• Correcting Post-Surgical Irregularities: Addressing vision issues resulting from previous eye surgery.

• Treating Mild Refractive Errors: An option for specific cases where laser surgery is not suitable.

Topography-Guided Treatments: Ultimate Customization

This represents the pinnacle of personalized vision correction. Using advanced corneal mapping technology, we create a highly detailed 3D model of your eye’s unique surface. The laser treatment is then customized to this precise map, correcting not just your prescription but also subtle imperfections that cause glare and halos.

Key Benefits of Topography-Guided Procedures:

• Personalized Correction: Treats your eye’s unique fingerprint of irregularities for potentially sharper vision.

• Superior Night Vision: Significantly reduces halos, starbursts, and glare around lights at night.

• Enhanced Contrast Sensitivity: Provides clearer, more defined vision in low-light conditions, like during Seattle’s rainy evenings or overcast days.

Choosing Your Procedure: A Personalized Framework

Selecting the right vision correction surgery is a deeply personal decision. At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, WA, we guide you through every factor to find your perfect match. Here’s how to think about your choice.

1. Your Age & Pacific Northwest Lifestyle
Your life stage and how you enjoy the Seattle area are primary factors.

• In Your 20s-30s: If you have an active lifestyle—hiking, skiing, or navigating a busy urban routine—LASIK or PRK are often ideal for long-term freedom from glasses.

• 40 and Older: If you already need reading glasses, procedures like Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) become a powerful option to correct distance vision and presbyopia in one step.

• Athletes & Outdoor Enthusiasts: For those into contact sports, mountain biking, or trail running, the flapless strength of PRK or SMILE can be a significant advantage.

2. Your Unique Eye Anatomy
A detailed scan at our Seattle clinic provides the definitive data.

• Corneal Thickness: This is the key determinant between LASIK (requires adequate thickness) and PRK or ICL (ideal for thinner corneas).

• Prescription Severity: While laser options cover a wide range, ICL is the champion for exceptionally high levels of nearsightedness.

• Pupil Size & Eye Health: These subtle factors influence the potential for night vision symptoms and help our surgeons recommend the most appropriate technology for your eyes.

3. Your Career & Long-Term Vision Goals
Your profession can help point the way.

• Military, First Responders, Pilots: These roles often favor PRK due to its exceptional long-term stability and lack of a flap.

• Healthcare Professionals, Tech Workers: Those needing a rapid return to screens and detailed work often appreciate the quick recovery of LASIK.

• Long-Term Planning: If preventing future cataracts is a goal, RLE is the only procedure that offers a permanent solution.

Your Recovery Journey & Long-Term Success

At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, WA, your recovery is our priority. We provide every patient with a clear, personalized aftercare plan to ensure a smooth healing process and outstanding long-term results. Here’s what you can typically expect.

Your Recovery Timeline: What to Expect

• The First 24 Hours: Plan to rest and relax. It’s normal to experience light sensitivity, tearing, and a gritty feeling. Keep your eyes closed as much as possible, use the prescribed medicated drops to prevent infection and inflammation, and absolutely avoid rubbing your eyes. You will need someone to drive you home after your procedure in Seattle.

• The First Week: Your vision will gradually improve, though some blurriness and fluctuation are completely normal. You can return to most non-strenuous daily activities. Key precautions include: avoiding swimming pools, hot tubs, and dusty environments; and skipping heavy exercise or activities that could risk contact with the eye.

• The First Month: Your vision will continue to stabilize and sharpen. Most patients feel comfortable driving at night as halos and glare diminish. It is crucial to attend all scheduled follow-up appointments at our Seattle clinic so our doctors can monitor your healing progress.

How to Maximize Your Surgical Results

A successful outcome is a partnership between our surgical expertise and your diligent care.

Before Surgery:

• Stop wearing contact lenses as directed (typically 2+ weeks) to allow your corneas to return to their natural shape for accurate measurements.

• Arrange for transportation to and from your surgery appointment.

• Prepare a comfortable recovery space at home with sunglasses, approved artificial tears, and any entertainment you can enjoy with your eyes closed.

After Surgery:

• Adhere strictly to your medication schedule. The anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops are essential for proper healing.

• Protect your eyes. Wear the protective shields while sleeping and sunglasses outdoors, even on Seattle’s overcast days.

• Attend every follow-up exam. These visits allow us to catch any potential issues early and ensure you are healing perfectly.

• Communicate openly. Report any unusual pain, significant vision changes, or concerns to our Seattle team immediately.