Ada Vision Center provides refractive surgery with procedures such as LASIK, PRK and implantable contact lenses. Having had the unique opportunity to co-manage over 8,000 refractive eye procedures, Dr. Noble and Dr. Simonson are well-versed in selecting a good refractive surgery candidate. Our doctors will take the time to discuss which procedure is right for you. As a refractive surgery patient, you can trust that you are in good hands with the expertise of the doctors at Ada Vision Center.

LASIK

Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a procedure used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. During this procedure, patients are given numbing drops and a flap is created on the superficial layer of the cornea with an instrument called a microkeratome. The excimer laser then uses a cool beam of laser light to gently sculpt your spectacle correction onto the front surface of the eye. The flap is then returned to its original position. The laser spends a matter of seconds reshaping the eye and many patients notice an improvement in their vision as they exit the surgical suite.

LASEK

LASEK is an alternative for patients who are not good LASIK candidates. It was developed to reduce the chance of complications that can occur when a flap is created on patients who do not have the ideal corneal thickness. During LASEK, the epithelium, which is the skin surface of the eye, is moved back after loosening it with an alcohol solution. The laser treatment is then applied to reshape the eye and the epithelial tissue is gently returned to its original position.

PRK

PhotoRefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is another alternative for patients who are not good LASIK candidates. During PRK the laser treatment is applied directly to the eye. The eye is reshaped or sculpted in a similar manner to LASIK; however, healing times are prolonged for the PRK patient because epithelial tissue is removed and discarded. After the procedure, patients wear a contact lens as a bandage until the eye has healed and the epithelial tissue has regenerated.

RK/AK

Radial Keratotomy/Astigmatic Keratotomy (RK/AK) was the first procedure used to successfully treat nearsightedness. During the procedure, a diamond blade is used to create incisions on the surface of the cornea in a radiating configuration (like the spokes of a wheel). These incisions flatten the cornea and thus decrease nearsightedness.

Contact Lens Implant

A contact lens implant is used for patients with too large a prescription for LASIK. During this procedure, a high powered lens is placed over the natural crystalline lens inside the eye. Patients remain awake throughout the procedure and many people return to work and begin driving within one week of the procedure. Usually each eye undergoes the procedure about one week apart.

Bifocal Implant Lenses

The normal process of aging causes the lens of the eye to become less able to focus which leads to a loss in the ability to see near objects clearly. This is a condition which affects those over the age of 40. There are now three new treatment options for this condition. In each procedure the natural crystalline lens inside the eye is removed and a permanent artificial lens is implanted. Unlike standard cataract surgery which corrects distance vision, these procedures correct both distance and near vision. They are relatively new procedures, and our doctors can help you decide which procedure right for you.