By Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS –
People visit our practice looking for ways to improve their vision. Sometimes this simply requires getting a prescription for glasses or contact lenses; but many times patients are looking for a way to permanently improve their vision without depending on glasses or contacts.
Younger people between the ages of 21 to 45 may choose to have iLASIK, which actually changes the shape of their cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye. However, as we age, the lens inside of our eye loses its ability to focus both near and far. So someone over 45 may choose to have a procedure called a Refractive Lensectomy or Clear Lens Exchange. This procedure corrects nearsightedness or farsightedness by replacing the eye’s natural lens, which has the wrong power, with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) that has the correct power for the eye to see well. Presbyopia, a progressive condition typically requiring individuals over the age of 40 to use reading glasses, can be corrected using a multifocal lens implant, such as the ReSTOR lens, which will allow them to see at all distances.
Laser Refractive lensectomy is a surgical procedure that uses the same successful techniques that Dr. Frantz uses when he performs bladeless laser cataract surgery with the LenSx laser, which he introduced to southwest Florida in May 2012. The main difference between cataract surgery and refractive lensectomy is that cataract surgery is performed to remove a patient’s cataract that is clouding their vision, while refractive lensectomy is performed to reduce a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses. People who have a refractive lensectomy now will not have to have cataract surgery in the future.
In addition, the LenSx laser used during refractive lensectomy may also help alleviate a condition known as astigmatism by creating one or two precise incisions in the cornea. Patients with higher amounts of astigmatism may choose to have a Toric lens implant. Astigmatism is a condition in which the surface of the eye has a more oval shape rather than a round shape and causes blurred vision at all distances.
Insurance does not cover the cost of refractive lensectomy as it is considered an elective procedure. We can discuss out-of-pocket charges and flexible payment plans when you visit our office for your evaluation.
Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, is named in Best Doctors in America and The Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists. He and his team of doctors at Frantz EyeCare offer a broad spectrum of patient-focused comprehensive care from eye exams and eyewear to bladeless laser cataract removal, treatment of eye diseases,, bladeless iLASIK, and eyelid surgery with office locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and Lehigh Acres.
To make an appointment online, visit
www.bettervision.net or call Frantz EyeCare at
941-505-2020