Should I have Lasik or ICL?

A number of people who are considering the Lasik procedure to correct their
nearsightedness or farsightedness have of some potential problems of Lasik,
and are wondering if there are other options. Though more than 95 percent
of the Lasik patients have a very successful procedure without any major
side effects, there are choices for people who wish to improve their vision.
Let's compare two, and discuss these choices with a reputable ophthalmologist.

Traditional Lasik surgery uses a scalpel to create a small flap in the eye,
and then a laser reshapes the eye in order to focus accurately. 
There are two more recent forms of Lasik, one that entirely uses a laser
and does away with the scalpel.  Another variation uses a three dimension
waveform for people with unusual eye shapes, and both of these are worth
discussing with your ophthalmologist.

Those people with very thin corneas or other issues that make Lasik not
a good candidate for their particular case can consider implantable
contact lens surgery.  This is known as ICL in the eye surgeon's lingo, and
is a good alternative to Lasik to permanently correct vision. 
These lenses function in exactly the same way as removable lenses, except
that they remain permanently in the eye.  Like Lasik, they reshape the eye
in order for it to focus accurately.  The patient will not feel the lens
once the operation has been performed.

Lasik and ICL are similar in several ways. Lasik can improve vision affected
by nearsightedness and astigmatism, and ICL can improve these vision
deficiencies also.  Both Lasik and ICL also have some of the same risks,
one of these being that the correction is not accurate after the first
operation is done.  Lasik is a much more frequently performed procedure,
and less than 3 percent (according to the FDA) of these patients need to
undergo additional surgery to further correct vision after the first Lasik
procedure is done.

Like any operation, there is a chance of infection in either a Lasik
procedure or an ICL operation.  Good post-operative care by the patient will
minimize this and regular checkups at the Lasik or eye care center will
nearly always clear this up without further complication. 
In a small percentage of the cases, either Lasik or ICL patients may not
achieve perfect vision and may need to continue to wear corrective eyewear,
though usually not at the same strength as the original eyewear.

One advantage of ICL over Lasik is that ICL is a reversible procedure,
where the implanted lens can be removed later if that becomes necessary. 
Lasik involves the reshaping of the cornea to bring objects accurately into
focus, and is permanent.  However, for a typical, healthy patient either
Lasik or ICL will generally bring about the desired improvement in vision.

Lasik is generally a less invasive procedure, and this is reflected in the
current cost of the operation.  The current price for a Lasik procedure is
between $500 and $2500 per eye, depending on the type of procedure and the
presiding physician.  A typical price for ICL is between $1500 and $3000
per eye.  Do some investigation into the options offered, and select the
eye procedure that is best for your personal case.