As we age, our eyesight can become a bigger focus of our overall health. Maybe you now need to wear readers, or your long-held eyeglass prescription has been increased. Maybe you are worried about cataracts. Whatever the concern may be, Evergreen Eye Centers are here to help evaluate your overall eye health and provide the best solutions to help you reach your goals.
One of those solutions may be refractive surgery which allows patients to see better without contacts. Refractive surgery includes Lasik or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) which are laser surgeries to correct issues with the bending of light in the eye. More intense refractive issues may be solved by an intraocular lens implant (IOL) or Refractive lens exchange (RLE), which have the added benefit of eliminating any potential for cataracts in the patient’s future. Because the lens that could become cloudy or thick (commonly called a cataract) is exchanged, the threat of a cataract is also removed.
According to Dr. Erin Seefeldt, a cataract and refractive surgery specialist at Evergreen Eye Centers, “When I begin evaluating a patient, it really is about listening for their goals and hearing where their frustrations are. Then I work to determine what will meet their needs.” She added, “I start with their anatomical features and combine that with their current prescriptions and piece it all together to determine their best surgical options.”
Lasik and PRK are quick procedures on the outside of the eye that take place in the office with a mild relaxation pill and have fast recoveries. A refractive lens exchange is inside the eye and requires more time for both the procedure and the healing. But that healing is typically within a few days.
“I feel fortunate I get to do what I love. Following surgery, many patients are so pleased with their results that the most common thing I hear is ‘why didn’t I do this sooner’,” Seefeldt said. Evaluations for refractive surgery are free at Evergreen Eye Center.
Evergreen Eye Center
Locations in Tacoma, Auburn, Federal Way, Burien, and Seattle
evergreeneye.com
BY LYNN CASTLE