What is Refractive Surgery

Refractive surgery refers to correcting refractive errors through various surgical intervention options.  Refractive errors are why some people need glasses and contacts. Refractive errors occur because of the shape of the eye. 

Refractive surgery is a category of surgical procedures designed to correct refractive errors, which occur when the eye does not bend (or "refract") light correctly, resulting in blurred vision. Common refractive errors include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia.

There are several types of vision correction surgeries used to address these issues, including:

• LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) – reshapes the cornea using a laser to improve how light is focused on the retina.
  
  
• PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) – similar to LASIK, but involves removing the outer layer (the epithelium) of the cornea before reshaping it with a laser.
  
  
• RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) – replaces the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), often used for people with presbyopia,  severe farsightedness, or severe nearsightedness.
  
  
• EVO ICL (EVO Visian Implantable Collamer Lens) – involves implanting a lens inside the eye without removing the natural lens, suitable for people with thin corneas or high myopia.
  
  

Despite the differences in technique, all these procedures share a common goal: to eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses by improving how light is focused onto the retina.