Seeing Clearly: A Comparison of LASIK and Cataract Surgery

June 13, 2023

In a world where having good eyesight is essential to living life to the fullest, medical technology advancements have transformed eye surgery and given us a sharper picture of the world. Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis – LASIK  and cataract surgery are two common treatments performed by qualified eye surgeons in Calgary that have substantially improved the lives of countless people. 

These procedures are designed to restore eyesight, although they address various issues and circumstances. In this blog post, we will compare LASIK and cataract surgery to assist you in making an informed choice if you are considering vision correction.

Everything about LASIK

Popular refractive procedures like LASIK are used to treat multiple eyesight issues. The cornea, the transparent front surface of the eye, is modified to alter how light enters the eye and how it is focused on the retina.

Here are some significant features of LASIK:

Procedure: LASIK involves making a tiny flap in the cornea, and then reshaping the underlying tissue using a laser. After that, the flap is adjusted to serve as a natural bandage.

Suitable Candidates: LASIK is ideal for individuals with stable vision prescriptions and healthy corneas. It is not recommended for those with cataracts or other significant eye issues.

Quick Recovery: The majority of LASIK patients experience better vision within 24 to 48 hours, with little to no discomfort and a quick recovery.

Results: Excellent visual results after LASIK frequently mean that wearing glasses or contact lenses is reduced or eliminated.

What Diseases Does LASIK Treat? 

• Myopia (Nearsightedness): Myopia is a condition that causes vision of distant objects to be blurred because the cornea is too steep or the eye is too long. In order to correct myopia, LASIK involves reshaping the cornea.
• Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Hyperopia, which causes close-up objects to look imprecise, is caused by an eye that is too short or a cornea that is too flat. To treat hyperopia, LASIK can modify the cornea’s shape.
• Astigmatism: A disorder known as astigmatism results in an unevenly shaped cornea, which distorts or blurs vision at all distances. Astigmatism can be treated by LASIK by reshaping the cornea.

Understanding Cataract Surgery

Treatment of cataracts, an aging-related clouding of the natural lens of the eye, is the main objective of cataract surgery. As cataracts progress, vision may be seriously compromised. The following are some crucial aspects of cataract surgery:

Procedure: An artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is used to replace the clouded native lens during cataract surgery. This IOL aids in focusing light onto the retina to restore vision clarity.

Suitable Candidates: People who get cataract surgery often do it because their vision has been seriously affected. For those with visual problems not connected to cataracts, it is not an approach for vision correction.

Recovery: Following cataract surgery, the majority of patients see a progressive improvement in their eyesight over a few weeks. Although complete healing varies, it usually takes a few weeks.

Results: The success rate of cataract eye surgery in Calgary in recovering vision is quite high, and it frequently reduces or even eliminates the requirement for distance-vision glasses.

What Diseases Can Cataract Surgery Treat? 

A specific eye problem called cataracts is typically treated through cataract surgery, which is a very successful treatment. Cataracts cause the natural lens of the eye to become cloudy, which can cause vision problems. The following issues are therefore the primary conditions that are treated by cataract surgery.

• Cataracts: When the eye’s normally clear, transparent lens develops a cataract, it becomes cloudy or opaque, impairing vision and causing glare from strong lights as well as other visual disturbances including uncertain vision and difficulties seeing in low light. In order to restore vision clarity, cataract surgery entails removing the clouded natural lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

Comparing LASIK and Cataract Surgery

Purpose

While cataract surgery is usually used to treat patients with cataracts that are impairing their vision, LASIK is mostly used to treat patients with refractive problems.

Procedure Complexity

LASIK is a relatively quick and straightforward outpatient procedure.  Even while cataract surgery is usually safe, it may entail more complicated stages and may necessitate a short hospital stay.

Recovery Time

With LASIK eye surgery in Calgary, recovery times are shorter, and most patients report seeing better within a few days. With a slow improvement in vision over several weeks following cataract surgery, there can be a prolonged recovery period.

Suitability

Candidates for LASIK must have stable vision prescriptions and healthy corneas, whereas cataract surgery is normally only performed on those who already have cataracts.

Long-Term Results

Both procedures have the potential to lessen or eliminate the requirement for glasses in the long run. However, because of the variety of IOLs available, cataract surgery may better manage presbyopia (age-related near vision loss).

Cataract and LASIK eye surgery near you are two distinct treatments with separate functions in the field of ophthalmic surgery. To choose the best course of action for you, you must consult an ophthalmologist. The objective is the same regardless of the procedure: to let you see clearly and experience the world with renewed vision and vitality.

Enhance Your Vision with Quality Treatments at Clarity Laser Vision

Discover a world of clearer vision at our local eye care center. Our commitment to quality treatments and cutting-edge technology ensures that your vision receives the care it deserves. Say goodbye to blurry vision and hello to a brighter, sharper future. 

Visit us today to take the first step toward a life with improved eyesight. Talk to you soon!