Under 40? Why It’s Time to Get Rid of Your Glasses or Contacts

Featured,Refractive Lens Exchange

Do you wear glasses or contact lenses? Are you frustrated that you need these visual aids to see the world around you?

If you have refractive errors, you don’t necessarily need to rely on glasses and contact lenses. There’s an alternative to these visual aids: vision correction procedures. 

There’s more than one kind of vision correction procedure, although the one that you’re probably already familiar with, and is most popular, is LASIK. But LASIK isn’t the only option for correcting and improving your vision. 

Another option that you may not be as familiar with is called refractive lens exchange. Refractive lens exchange, or RLE, is a vision correction procedure that can help you finally achieve freedom from visual aids. 

If you choose to undergo a vision correction procedure, get ready to have your life change for the better! Few things are as life-changing as experiencing permanent vision correction! 

But if you want to experience the benefits of improving your vision, a vision correction procedure is best before you turn 40! Why? 

By undergoing one of these procedures when you’re younger, you can enjoy them longer. Keep reading to discover why if you’re under 40, it’s time to get rid of your glasses and contact lenses! 

Improve Your Vision with a Vision Correction Procedure

Vision correction procedures have been available for decades since receiving FDA approval. These procedures are highly effective and proven ways of improving vision while still being low-risk. 

After all, it’s no coincidence that most patients who undergo these procedures end up with 20/20 vision or better! The most popular of these procedures is LASIK.

LASIK corrects refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Of course, to undergo LASIK, you have to be a good candidate. 

But most patients will qualify for the vision correction procedure and report satisfaction with their crisp, clearer vision. What about patients who still want freedom from their glasses and contact lenses but don’t qualify for LASIK? 

Since LASIK isn’t the only option, it means looking at alternative procedures. One of these is refractive lens exchange. 

Refractive lens exchange is often an excellent alternative for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK. These two procedures are quite different, but both can give patients 20/20 vision or better while eliminating the need for visual aids!

Choose LASIK and Change Your Life

LASIK is a refractive laser eye procedure. Being a refractive laser eye procedure means that LASIK changes the shape of the cornea to correct how light refracts through it. 

Your cornea is the clear front part of your eye, and when it’s misshapen, it causes a refractive error. Lenses from glasses or contact lenses correct this error by changing how light refracts before it passes through your eye. 

But LASIK changes the shape of the cornea itself. When you get LASIK, first, a flap is made from the top of the cornea. Then, the flap is lifted before your LASIK surgeon at Sweeney Eye Associates uses an excimer laser to reshape tissue under the flap. They replace the flap, which acts as a natural bandage as the eye heals. 

LASIK can correct a high degree of nearsightedness and a moderate degree of farsightedness and astigmatism. But not all patients can have their vision fully corrected with LASIK. 

Some patients also won’t qualify for LASIK due to having corneas that aren’t thick enough to accommodate a flap. Luckily, there are alternatives like refractive lens exchange.

Experience Decades of Better Vision with Refractive Lens Exchange

Even if you’re not a good LASIK candidate, you don’t have to give up on your dreams of visual freedom. With procedures like refractive lens exchange, you can achieve better vision that works for you for decades to come.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) removes your natural lens and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL allows you to see clearly after the procedure.

But depending on your chosen IOL, it also allows you to see better than before. There are different kinds of IOLs, some of which are more advanced and can provide more dynamic vision. 

These are premium IOLs that you have to pay for out of pocket. However, most patients find these are worth the extra cost because they significantly improve vision. Your surgeon at Sweeney Eye Associates will help you choose the best IOL based on your lifestyle and visual goals. 

One of the great things about RLE is that it doesn’t require a corneal flap, so you can have it even if you have thinner corneas. Refractive lens exchange can also correct nearsightedness and farsightedness to a higher degree than LASIK, especially farsightedness. 

You’ll never need to worry about developing cataracts if you have refractive lens exchange. Instead, you can look forward to many years of improved vision thanks to refractive lens exchange. 

Gain Peace of Mind and Visual Freedom with the EVO ICL

If you’re under 40 and not a good candidate for LASIK, another choice worth considering is the EVO ICL. The EVO ICL is the only reversible vision correction option.

It’s only for patients that are nearsighted or have astigmatism. But it’s also excellent if you want to achieve visual freedom from glasses and contact lenses. 

Do you want to enjoy late nights outdoors without worrying about how you’ll see? Ready to have crisp, clear vision when you jump in the pool or huddle around a campfire on hazy summer nights?

With the EVO ICL, whether you’re jogging along to stay fit, binging your favorite show at home, or taking in the stars, your vision will be there for all the moments that matter. You can also look forward to better vision than you ever had when you depended on glasses and contact lenses.

Choosing the Right Procedure for You

Refractive lens exchange is an excellent option if you don’t otherwise qualify for LASIK because of your prescription or cornea thickness. But there are other reasons that you may be a good candidate for refractive lens exchange or the EVO ICL instead of LASIK. 

Vision correction procedures are often best when you’re younger. This is because things like LASIK and the EVO ICL don’t prevent age-related vision loss from conditions like presbyopia and cataracts. 

If you’re under 40, these issues are rarely a problem, so LASIK and the EVO ICL are great options if you’re younger. But refractive lens exchange can prevent cataracts and correct presbyopia along with other refractive errors! 

It’s often recommended for patients over 40. However, if you’re under 40, refractive lens exchange may still be a good option, even if you could be a good candidate for LASIK. 

You may start showing symptoms of presbyopia in your late thirties, making refractive lens exchange a better choice. Why wouldn’t you choose a procedure that would allow you to eliminate visual aids and reading glasses?

Ready to find out which vision correction procedure could be right for you? Schedule your consultation at Sweeney Eye Associates in Richardson, TX, now!