Eye Surgeries: What’s the Difference?

If you suffer from vision problems, you may have wondered what it would be like to see without the hassle of wearing glasses or contact lenses. Fortunately, there are various procedures that help correct vision-related conditions. Dr. Chris Walton has extensive experience with each of the most common eye surgeries and works with you to determine which procedure is best for your specific condition. The most common vision correction surgeries offered by Dr. Walton include:

LASIK is performed to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. LASIK provides a remarkable, permanent improvement to your vision, allowing you to see without glasses or contact lenses for the rest of your life (except for when presbyopia requires reading glasses). This procedure also improves peripheral vision and generally involves a rapid recovery. Dr. Walton has performed over 2,500 LASIK procedures using the Allegretto Wave^® laser to reshape the eye’s cornea, with 100% of those patients achieving 20/20 vision.

Monovision LASIK is a procedure that helps correct presbyopia, in which the natural lens in the eye loses its flexibility, making it difficult to see objects that are near. Presbyopia is a natural, age-related condition that affects nearly everyone and generally starts around age 40. A laser vision correction procedure, monovision LASIK corrects one eye to see for distance and the other for seeing near. The brain then adapts to each eye’s specific ability and focuses according to where you are looking (near or far).

One of the most common alternatives to LASIK is photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery, which corrects refractive issues in the eye such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Just like LASIK, the PRK procedure reshapes the eye’s cornea but differs in the techniques used. PRK surgery is generally recommended for those who are not good LASIK candidates and involves a recovery period that is slightly longer.

Cataracts are the age-related vision condition in which a cloudiness develops on the eye’s lens and causes light to scatter, instead of focusing on the retina. What results is blurry vision, fading colors, light sensitivity, double vision, and symptoms that get worse as your lenses become cloudier. Dr. Walton offers laser surgery for cataracts, as well as premium intraocular lenses. He has performed over 4,000 cataracts surgeries and uses the LenSx^® laser system, which is the most advanced laser technology for cataracts surgery.

Everyone’s condition is different, making it important to have a consultation to see which surgery is right for you. If you live in Mobile, Alabama or the surrounding Gulf Coast area and you’re interested in any of the above eye surgeries, contact the office of Dr. Chris Walton at 251-341-3385 to set up your consultation today.