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Alternatives to Eyeglasses

Many people need to take steps to correct faulty vision and often will get prescription glasses to meet that need. Others, however, may opt for other options to correct their vision, for reasons such as vanity and ease of use. There are several choices, from different types of contact lenses to surgery.

  1. Contact Lenses

    • Contact lenses are prescription lenses worn directly on the eyeball. They can be used to correct several eye problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. They come in three lens styles: hard, soft and gas permeable and as daily wear, which must be removed at night, and extended wear, which can be worn for several days in a row, even at night. Contact lenses often have to be replaced frequently to reduce the risk of eye infection.

    Corneal Refractive Therapy

    • Another style of contact lens offers corneal refractive therapy. With such lenses, which are for nearsighted children over the age of 10, the cornea is temporarily reshaped when the child is sleeping; vision will be normal during the day without the lenses. The vision correction lasts, however, only as long as the child wears the lenses faithfully every night. Similar to CRT lenses are ortho-k lenses, which also temporarily reshape the eyeball while a wearer is sleeping; ortho-k lenses work for adults as well as children.

    LASIK

    • Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery has become more popularity in recent years as a means of correcting eyesight. With LASIK, a small flap is cut in the cornea; a laser then is used to correct the vision by eliminating a piece of the midsection of the cornea and then the flap is replaced. LASIK is a permanent way to correct vision, but in a small number of patients, it can create new eye problems. In rare instances it has caused blindness.

    Implantable Lenses

    • Implantable lenses, which are similar in style to contact lenses, are surgically implanted in the eyeball. While implanted lenses were originally thought of as being only for those who are extremely nearsighted, a recent study indicates they also may be good for people with moderate myopia -- and a better alternative in such cases than LASIK surgery.

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