What Treatments are Available for Common Refractive Errors?

Although refractive errors are not serious, they can cause blurry vision and make it difficult to see clearly. People with refractive errors have problems reading or driving, impacting their daily activities and quality of life.

The great news is that treatments are available for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Wang Vision Institute has several advanced options that include cutting-edge Nashville LASIK surgery, PRK, ZEISS SMILE, implantable contact lenses, and refractive lens exchange.

Want to learn more about each of these treatments? Dr. Ming Wang, a Harvard and MIT graduate who holds a doctorate degree in laser physics, discusses these cutting-edge procedures below and how they improve your vision.

How do refractive errors cause blurry vision?

Refractive errors are caused by an irregular eye shape. If the cornea (the clear, protective outer layer) is curved too much or too little, light will not focus correctly on the retina. This results in blurry vision. People can be born with an irregularly-shaped cornea, or it may develop over time due to age. Common refractive errors include:

• Nearsightedness: The cornea is curved too much or the length of the eye is too long, and light focuses in front of the retina. This makes distant objects look blurry.

• Farsightedness: The cornea is curved too little or the length of the eye is too short, and light focuses behind the retina. This makes nearby objects appear blurry.

• Astigmatism: The cornea is not perfectly round, and light focuses in more than one place. This causes blurry vision at all distances.

• Presbyopia: The lens becomes less flexible with age, making it difficult to see objects clearly up close. Presbyopia is also known as age-related farsightedness.

What treatments correct refractive errors?

Some people use glasses or contacts to improve their vision. However, these are not permanent options and can be a hassle to maintain. Wang Vision Institute is proud to help patients find long-lasting solutions to correct their refractive errors. We have helped individuals from over 40 states in the U.S. and 55 countries worldwide with a wide range of treatments.

Our procedures include:

• Nashville LASIK surgery: Requires making a thin corneal flap and using a laser to reshape the cornea.

• PRK: PRK is similar to LASIK but does not require making a flap. This option is for patients who are not eligible for LASIK or have thin corneas.

• ZEISS SMILE: ZEISS SMILE involves reshaping the cornea by removing a small bit of tissue (called a lenticule) through small incisions.

• Implantable contact lenses: Advanced lenses are surgically placed inside the eye. They provide vision correction for people with high levels of near sightedness that cannot be fully corrected with LASIK, ZEISS SMILE or PRK. Also a good option if someone's corneas are thinner than average.

• Refractive lens exchange: Replaces the natural lens inside the eye with an artificial lens. Designed to help patients that are not ideal LASIK, ZEISS SMILE, or PRK candidates. Refractive lens exchange helps with nearsighted, far sighted, and age-related vision loss or presbyopia.

Treat your refractive error

Blurry vision caused by refractive errors does not have to impact your life or the way you perform everyday tasks. Wang Vision Institute has many state-of-the-art treatment options to help you see clearly. Schedule an exam with Wang Vision Institute to see if you are a candidate for Nashville LASIK surgery, PRK, ZEISS SMILE, implantable contact lenses, or refractive lens exchange. We can help you achieve great vision and improve your quality of life.