LASIK Alternatives

A Clear Future Without LASIK? Absolutely.

Not everyone is a perfect match for LASIK—and that’s okay. While LASIK has helped millions see more clearly, it’s not the only path to freedom from glasses and contacts. Factors like age, the shape or thickness of your cornea, past eye surgeries, or particular eye conditions may mean LASIK isn’t ideal for your eyes.

But don’t worry—this doesn’t mean you have to settle for blurry vision or the daily hassle of corrective lenses. We offer a range of advanced vision correction alternatives tailored to your unique needs and eye health. Whether it’s PRK, Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), or another personalized solution, we’ll help you find the best path forward to clear, confident vision.

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Which Is Better, LASIK, PRK, or RLE?

Here at Southwest Eye Institute, we offer multiple options for laser vision correction, including LASIK, PRK, and RLE. These LASIK alternatives each come with unique benefits, and in our experienced hands, they often produce the same clear vision just a few months after surgery. That’s why choosing the right procedure for your eyes begins with a personalized discussion with your surgeon. We’re here to guide you through every step of your journey to better vision—that’s the VIP way!

PRK

PRK is the most flexible vision-correcting procedure available. No corneal flap is required and the same excimer laser used in LASIK is used to correct the vision. PRK requires more healing time, medication, and close follow-up with your surgeon to achieve the same visual results as LASIK, but in some patients may be a better option.

RLE

RLE eye surgery is an alternative to LASIK surgery and is closely related to cataract surgery. Refractive Lens Exchange surgery has many similarities to cataract surgery. Like in cataract surgery, the natural crystalline lens is removed and replaced with an Intraocular lens implant, or IOL. The main difference is that the natural crystalline lens that is removed has not developed or has not fully developed cataracts.

PRK is the most flexible vision-correcting procedure available. No corneal flap is required and the same excimer laser used in LASIK is used to correct the vision. PRK requires more healing time, medication, and close follow-up with your surgeon to achieve the same visual results as LASIK, but in some patients may be a better option.

RLE eye surgery is an alternative to LASIK surgery and is closely related to cataract surgery. Refractive Lens Exchange surgery has many similarities to cataract surgery. Like in cataract surgery, the natural crystalline lens is removed and replaced with an Intraocular lens implant, or IOL. The main difference is that the natural crystalline lens that is removed has not developed or has not fully developed cataracts.