Types of Eye Correction

If you're having vision problems you may want to visit your doctor for an eye exam. Some people choose to use glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. If you don't want to deal with the hassle of glasses, however, you may choose to undergo corrective eye surgery. Corrective eye surgery has extremely high success rates and is usually relatively painless, according to the University of Iowa.

Photorefractive Keratectomy Surgery

• PKR surgery involves making small cuts within the cornea.

  Photorefractive keratectomy surgery involves using an excimer laser with a cool ultraviolet light beam to remove small fragments of tissue from the cornea to reshape it, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Photorefractive keratectomy surgery is used to correct farsightedness, mild-to-moderate Excimer lasers use ultraviolet light to make incisions and corrections to the eye. nearsightedness and astigmatism. Patients that undergo photorefractive keratectomy surgery usually have 20\20 vision within one year after surgery. There is a small risk of infection or scarring associated with this type of surgery, according to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Before surgery eyes are numbed with anesthesia, according to the University of Iowa. Common symptoms after photorefractive keratectomy surgery include watery eyes, runny nose, light sensitivity and eye redness. Sunglasses should be worn in bright light for a few weeks after surgery, according to the University of Illinois Chicago.

LASIK Eye Surgery

• Patients may experience some eye redness after surgery.

  LASIK eye surgery is used to reduce dependence on contact lenses or glasses, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Kertomieleusis. During LASIK surgery. During LASIK surgery eyes are numbed with anesthetic and a small instrument called a microkeratome is used to create a flap on the cornea. After the flap is created an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea.

Refractive Lens Exchange

• Refractive lens exchange is a type of eye correction sometimes used for younger people.

  Refractive lens exchange is designed for people who are middle aged and beginning to develop cataracts, according to Allaboutvision.com. Sometimes refractive lens exchange is used to treat extreme farsightedness in younger people. Refractive lens exchange surgery is usually not covered by insurance and can cost several thousand dollars. Advantages of this type of eye correction include fast recovery, high success rates and high quality of vision, according to the UCLA Refractive Center.

Implantable Lenses

• Implantable lenses are similar to contact lenses.

  Implantable lenses are commonly used to treat myopia or nearsightedness, according to Allaboutvision.com. Implantable lenses are often referred to as intraocular lenses, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration. These lenses are similar to contact lenses and are usually implanted between the cornea and the iris or just behind the iris. People with thin corneas who need corrective eye surgery often use implantable lenses.