Refractive Surgery Explained in Greater South Coast, MA

Refractive surgery is a type of vision correction treatment that changes the refractive abilities of the eye. The procedure corrects myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia, and astigmatism. Our practice may use PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) or LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), both of which can be used to correct or adjust your vision. Eye Health Vision Centers performs PRK and LASIK at our Dartmouth, MA facility. Our skilled team of ophthalmologists is proud to use state-of-the-art technology and advanced surgical techniques to perform refractive surgery to help improve your vision. The procedure that will be used for you will be chosen by our team according to your lifestyle and specific vision needs. If you are interested in learning more about refractive surgery and the options our we offer, contact our Dartmouth, MA facility to schedule your appointment.

The best candidates for refractive surgery are those who want to improve their vision without the need for wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. Patients should have realistic expectations about the outcome of their procedure and understand that they may still need glasses or contacts afterward. If this is the case, your prescription may be lower, or you may only need glasses sometimes. You should also be healthy overall and free of any eye disease. One of our skilled ophthalmologists will meet with you during a consultation to discuss your vision needs and concerns and to recommend which course of treatment would best treat your condition.

Eye Health Vision Centers offers LASIK and PRK procedures at our Dartmouth, MA facility. Both of these procedures use laser technology as a way to alter and reshape the cornea. Learn what to expect during these procedures below.

LASIK – During the LASIK procedure, laser technology is used to create a thin flap on the cornea, exposing the underlying tissue. Next, the cornea is reshaped using an excimer laser and the flap is closed. Our state-of-the-art LASIK procedure is customizable and can be completely tailored to the shape of your eye for specific and precise vision correction.

PRK – For the PRK procedure, the thin, outer layer of the cornea is removed and the corneal tissue reshaped using laser technology. The portion of the cornea that was removed with self-repair and recover the corneal surface. The recovery period is a tad longer than that of the LASIK procedure for this reason. PRK is often used if a patient is not an ideal candidate for LASIK surgery or if the patient previously underwent LASIK surgery.

You will need to attend a series of follow-up appointments at our Dartmouth, MA location after refractive surgery to ensure that your eyes are healing properly. Your follow-up appointments may begin as early as the day following surgery. You'll see your doctor again at one-week post-surgery and a few more times over the following six months. These appointments will be relatively fast and will involve a check-up of your healing progress, as well as vision exams to test your visual ability. Many patients notice improved vision the day after surgery while some others take longer to see improvement. It is important that you attend each scheduled follow-up appointment so that our team can provide you with the best possible care during your recovery.

With the many treatment options available, our team understands why choosing refractive surgery may be a difficult option to consider. Eye Health Vision Centers is a superior practice offering innovative solutions that will help you achieve a higher quality of life through clearer vision. Schedule a consultation with one of our ophthalmologists to learn more about the many benefits of refractive surgery at our state-of-the-art Dartmouth, MA location.