Contact lenses are an effective aid in correcting poor vision, but sometimes they are not the best option. Cost, comfort and convenience can all be issues that drive a person to seek other alternatives. Contact lenses can be pricey, especially disposable lenses. For some people, dry eyes or other forms of discomfort prevent the use of contact lenses. The risk of losing a lens and the need to soak and clean contact lenses make them an inconvenient choice for many. Fortunately, a number of alternatives exist for those who choose to forgo contact lenses.
Laser Surgery
Surgery to correct vision has become increasingly popular, with laser surgery centers competing to offer the best prices and service. LASIK surgery is the most widely used technique, but Washington University explains that it is not suitable for patients with thin corneas. Other surgical techniques, such as laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis, or LASEK, and photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, do not remove as much of the cornea as LASIK does, thus they provide an option to those who are not viable candidates for LASIK.
Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses turn vision correction into a fashion statement. Glasses can be sexy. Glasses can be stylish. Depending on the style of frames and the tint of the lenses, glasses can make a person look intelligent, quirky, intense or mysterious. The Oregon Health and Science University Casey Eye Institute states that eyeglasses are the world’s most popular option for vision correction. Eyeglasses do not cause the discomfort sometimes associated with contact lenses, and it would be rather difficult to lose a pair of glasses in a swimming pool or on the playing field. Glasses can be pricey, if a person's taste runs toward the high fashion frames available at fancy optometry boutiques, but they can also be economical. A sturdy pair of frames can last years, and can be refitted with new lenses when a prescription changes.
Those with strong prescriptions can purchase special lightweight lenses. Bifocal and even trifocal lenses are available. There also exists the additional option of choosing prescription sunglasses, or transition lenses, which change from clear to tinted when a person moves from indoors out into the sunlight.
Intraocular Lens Implants
The Washington University Refractive Surgery Center describes intraocular lens implants as an effective option for vision correction, especially for those with a high degree of farsightedness. The procedure involved in intraocular lens implantation uses the surgical technique used to extract cataracts. The lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an implant.
Conductive Keratoplasty
The procedure known as conductive keratoplasty uses radiofrequency energy to heat up and shrink the tissue of the cornea, adjusting its shape to reduce farsightedness. This procedure is still relatively rare, and reports on its results have not been made readily available, according to Washington University.
