Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in LASIK on August 15, 2025
For many patients, the daily routine of reaching for glasses or inserting contact lenses has become second nature. However, many people wonder if there’s a way to achieve clear, natural vision without these visual aids.
The answer is yes; modern vision correction procedures, such as LASIK, PRK, and RLE, offer multiple pathways to freedom from glasses and contacts. Whether you’re dealing with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia, there are proven surgical options that can restore your visual independence.
The key to successful vision correction lies in understanding which procedure best matches your individual needs, eye health, and lifestyle requirements.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is the most popular vision correction procedure in the United States, with the highest patient satisfaction rating of any elective procedure. This advanced laser surgery reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors, providing rapid results and minimal downtime.
EyeHealth Northwest offers blade-free LASIK using the WaveLight Refractive Suite. This technology combines the FS200 Femtosecond laser for flap creation with the EX500 Excimer laser for precise corneal reshaping.
The result is a procedure that’s customized to your unique eye characteristics. During LASIK, your surgeon creates a thin corneal flap, then reshapes the underlying cornea using this laser technology.
The entire procedure takes just minutes per eye, and most patients notice an improvement in their vision immediately. The corneal flap heals naturally without stitches, allowing you to return to normal activities the next day.
LASIK is most effective for patients with healthy, sufficiently thick corneas and stable prescriptions. The procedure effectively corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Candidates typically range in age from 18 to 40, although individual factors determine suitability.
What is PRK?
PRK offers an excellent alternative for patients who aren’t ideal candidates for LASIK. This procedure removes the corneal surface entirely without creating a flap, making it suitable for individuals with thin corneas, dry eyes, or those who participate in sports with a higher risk of eye injury.
During PRK, the laser reshapes the stroma of the cornea after the outer epithelial layer is gently removed. A protective contact lens is placed over the eye during the healing process, which typically takes three to five days.
While recovery is slightly longer than LASIK, PRK provides the same excellent visual outcomes. EyeHealth Northwest’s Advanced Custom PRK utilizes the same WaveLight technology as their LASIK procedures, ensuring precise treatment and optimal results.
What is RLE?
For patients over 40 or those who are not suitable candidates for LASIK, refractive lens exchange (RLE) is an excellent alternative. This procedure replaces your natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), similar to cataract surgery but performed before cataracts develop.
RLE addresses multiple vision problems simultaneously and can correct presbyopia, which is an age-related decline in near vision. The procedure takes 15-20 minutes per eye and is performed on separate days for optimal safety and results.
This procedure offers the unique opportunity to personalize your vision to your specific needs and goals, as there are multiple IOLs to choose from, each offering different advantages.
Benefits of Vision Correction Surgery
Vision correction surgery provides benefits that extend far beyond simply seeing clearly. Patients consistently report improved confidence, convenience, and quality of life.
You’ll wake up seeing clearly, participate in sports without compromise, and enjoy activities like swimming or hiking without the hassle of glasses or contacts. The financial benefits are also significant.
While vision correction requires an upfront investment, it eliminates the ongoing costs of glasses, contact lenses, and related supplies. Over time, many patients find that the surgery pays for itself.
Determining Your Candidacy
The journey to clear vision begins with a thorough evaluation at EyeHealth Northwest. Your eye doctor will perform multiple diagnostic tests to evaluate your eye health and vision, review your medical history, and ask about your lifestyle goals to determine the best solution for you.
Schedule a consultation at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today to begin your journey toward visual independence and discover how modern vision correction can transform your daily life.
