The Road to Clearer Vision: Ways to Fix Your Eyesight

Did you know that more than half of people in the United States need help to see better? When your eyes don't focus light the right way, things look blurry. This is called refractive error, and is why many people need glasses, contact lenses or eye surgery.

Types of Vision Problems

1. Nearsightedness: You see clearly up close, but things far away look blurry.
2. Farsightedness: You see faraway things clearly, but up close, things look blurry.
3. Astigmatism: Things look blurry at all distances. This is one of the most common vision problems and often occurs with near or farsightedness.
4. Presbyopia: After age 40, it becomes harder to see up close, like when reading. This is when people start reaching for reading glasses or “readers”.

When you need help seeing up close, far away or a mix in between, we will explore the different ways to correct vision.

Glasses: The Classic Choice

Glasses are the most common and often, the first solution for correcting vision. Glasses use lenses to bend light so that light focuses properly on the retina. Glasses can help you see objects up close, far away or at both distances.

Pros:

• Easy to use — just put them on and go.
• Less expensive over time and easy to replace.

Cons:

• Can slip off, get foggy, break or get in the way during physical activity.
• Might feel heavy or uncomfortable on your face, especially with stronger prescriptions.

Contact Lenses: Invisible Correction

Contact lenses sit right on your eye and work like glasses to refocus light. There are two main types:

• Soft Contacts: These are the most common, comfortable and convenient. They are disposable and are thrown away after wearing them for a day, week or month, depending on the type.
• Hard Contacts: These contact lenses are also known as rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. Not only can they correct vision, but they are also able to help people with eye problems affecting the cornea when glasses or soft contacts would not provide adequate vision. They give crisp, clear vision, but it may take time to get used to them.

Scleral lenses are a larger type of hard lens that rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera). Despite being rigid, they are surprisingly comfortable and are especially helpful for patients with severely dry eyes or irregular corneas.

Pros:

• Great for sports and other physical activity.
• Contacts move with your eye, offering more natural and unobstructed sight.

Cons:

• You must keep them clean to avoid eye infections.
• Contacts take practice to put in and take out.
• Contacts may make your eyes feel dry.

Refractive Eye Surgery: A Permanent Fix

Refractive eye surgery corrects your vision by reshaping your cornea or implanting a special lens. LASIK is the most well-known surgery, but there are other types, too.

Within the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, Vinny De Stefano, MD, and John Suson, MD, specialize in refractive surgery and are experts using the latest technology to help patients achieve their best possible vision:

• LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis): Creates a flap in the outer layer of the cornea. A laser reshapes the tissue underneath to improve how light is focused on the retina.
• PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): Removes the top layer of your cornea and reshapes the cornea with a laser.
• SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): A small amount of corneal tissue is removed through a small incision, changing the shape of the cornea.
• ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens): An artificial lens is implanted behind the iris and in front of your natural lens to correct vision without changing the shape or thickness of the cornea.
• RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange): Like cataract surgery, RLE replaces your eye's natural lens with an artificial one.

Pros:

• No glasses or contacts.
• Results last a long time, often permanently.
• Advances in surgical techniques mean more patients are now candidates — even those with stronger prescriptions or thinner corneas.

Cons:

• Refractive surgery is considered elective, so insurance usually doesn't pay for it.
• Certain eye conditions, medical conditions or unstable prescriptions may make some people ineligible.
• As with any surgery, there is a small chance of problems. That’s why it’s essential to be evaluated by a well-trained refractive surgeon who can determine your candidacy and help minimize potential complications.

If you are interested in eye surgery, learn more about Dr. De Stefano and Dr. Suson or call 414-955-7812.
From glasses to contact lenses or surgical options, there is no one perfect choice for vision correction for everyone. The best option depends on your lifestyle, eye health and vision goals.