A common question we get at Griffin & Reed Eye Care from our Sacramento and Roseville patients is: What is the difference between LASIK and cataract surgery?
Although both LASIK and cataract surgery can do wonders to improve your vision, they are different procedures that serve different purposes in vision correction.
What Conditions Does LASIK Treat?
LASIK is laser eye surgery performed to improve the vision of patients who suffer with:
- Nearsightedness
- Farsightedness
- Astigmatism
You may be a good candidate for LASIK if your vision is stable (no prescription change in the last two years) and you have healthy eyes.
What Conditions Does Cataract Surgery Treat?
Cataract surgery is designed to treat the clouding of the lens of the eye, which inhibits light from passing through the eye normally.
You may be a good candidate for cataract surgery if you are suffering from hazy or blurred vision caused by the clouding of the lens. Cataracts cannot be prevented and are currently the leading cause of treatable blindness. In general, cataracts are caused by age, however, other causes of cataracts include:
- Trauma to the eye
- Heredity
- Exposure to UV radiation
- Eye disease
- Certain medications
- Medical conditions such as diabetes
How Does LASIK Work?
LASIK is performed with our state-of-the-art Alcon WaveLight® EX500 Excimer Laser to reshape the cornea with a cool ultraviolet light. Typically the amount of corneal tissue removed is smaller than the thickness of a human hair, but it allows for dramatic vision correction—98% of our patients achieve 20/20 vision with a single treatment. That’s why Griffin & Reed Eye Care is the home of 20/20 vision from your LASIK surgery or your money back.
The LASIK procedure only takes about 15 minutes, and the actual laser time per eye is only about a minute each depending on the severity of your prescription. First, a thin corneal flap is created with a femtosecond laser. The corneal flap is then gently lifted back by your surgeon to allow a second laser to reshape the cornea with a computer controlled laser programmed according to your unique corneal map. After the laser treatment, your surgeon carefully positions the corneal flap back into its original position and light rays can now focus more precisely on your retina for improved vision almost immediately.
Read what our patients are saying!
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the great work and extra service. The customer service was beyond compare. My thanks to your excellent staff.
Click here to read more reviews.
How Does Cataract Surgery Work?
Cataracts are treated by removing the natural lens, which has become clouded, and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The monofocal lens is standard, but the patient may choose the multifocal lens.
The monofocal lens corrects for one distance only. For example, it may correct nearsightedness, but not farsightedness, so you may need to continue wearing glasses to see at the uncorrected distance. A multifocal lens, however, improves distance and much of your close up vision so you can rely less on glasses.
Each solution offers advantages and disadvantages. Discuss the issue frankly with your eye surgeon to determine the treatment course that is right for you. We strive to never rush our patients and do everything possible to help you make an informed decision that best matches your preferences and lifestyle.
Correcting Astigmatism in Patients with Cataracts
The IOL used in cataract surgery corrects nearsightedness and farsightedness but generally does not correct astigmatism. Additional surgery, such as LASIK or PRK can treat astigmatism after cataract surgery has been performed.
Want to learn more about how LASIK or cataract surgery can bring your world into focus? If you are considering a vision correction procedure, call Griffin & Reed Eye Care at 916-485-2020 today or fill out our online contact form to schedule your LASIK consultation. We welcome patients throughout the Sacramento and Roseville areas.
