The availability of advanced technology has led to significant improvements in health care, including vision correction. About 50 years ago, the only option for vision correction was wearing glasses, and at that time glasses were usually heavy in design, with very thick lenses and were generally uncomfortable to wear.
Over time, changes were made to provide better optical clarity, as well as frame and lens designs that were lighter and more suitable for everyday wear.
Fast forward to modern vision correction options and glasses are no longer the only option. There are a variety of options to suit individual lifestyles and preferences, including:
Modern contact lens technology
Contact lenses are now a popular choice, with designs incorporating technology to help keep the lenses moist instead of irritating dry wearers. The flexible plastic material makes them easier to put on, and the long-wear lenses allow people to keep them in for up to a month, so there’s no need to put them in and out every morning and night.
For people who lead active lives where glasses can get in the way, contact lenses give them a new lease of life, and for those who physically dislike wearing glasses, lenses provide an invisible solution to vision correction.
Laser eye treatment
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the scope of eye treatment for vision correction was revolutionized by the availability of laser eye treatment. The first option was PRK (Photofractice Keratectomy), which offers a long-term vision correction solution. The procedure provided effective results for many, but the recovery process was longer than later developed laser treatments.
Modern types of laser eye treatment
Shortly after this breakthrough, LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) entered the scene, reducing pain and recovery time compared to previous laser treatments. People’s confidence in using laser therapy has increased after seeing how successful and minimally invasive the new laser technology has become.
For sports players, corrective laser therapy has allowed them to participate without having to wear contact lenses or suffer from poor vision by wearing some type of vision correction solution. As awareness of the effectiveness of LASIK treatment has grown, laser eye treatment clinics have become more affordable.
There has been further development in the field of laser eye treatment over the following years with different approaches depending on the nature of the patient’s eye condition.
For example, SMILE (Small Cut Lens Extraction) is designed to be more suitable for nearsighted patients.
TransPRK, named No-Touch-Trans-PRK treatmentalso offers an alternative type of laser treatment that can be performed without touching the body of the eye. For anyone who is afraid of other methods that require incisions to create a flap, TransPRK involves a method that they are usually more comfortable with. It uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea to correct vision.
Traditionally, laser eye treatment is only available through the NHS for a small number of people, usually those who may lose their sight if corrective surgery is not carried out.
Many people with myopia (nearsightedness), hypermetropia (farsightedness) and astigmatism (where the pupil of the eye is oval rather than round, causing blurring) now use private laser eye clinics to correct their vision.
Choosing a reputable eye clinic ensures that the most appropriate type of laser treatment is used based on the patient’s recommendation or eye condition. Presentation of clinics laser vision correction in Scotland Use the latest laser technology for long-lasting, effective results.
Success rate
Studies show that over 96% of patients achieve their desired visual correction with TransPRK treatment, and for myopic patients, some studies have shown that nearly 100% of patients achieve 20/20 vision after surgery.
Lens implants
Another vision correction option that is now available is the lens implant procedure. This is usually used to treat cataracts and involves replacing the eye’s natural lens with an implant or placing it next to an existing lens.
Lens implants often offer an alternative for people who are not suitable for laser eye treatment, older patients, and for those on very strong medications. The procedure is usually quick and patients can go home the same day.
People affected by vision conditions now have a wider range of options and no longer have to rely on wearing glasses or disposable contact lenses. Appropriate, long-lasting vision correction solutions are widely available, and many people feel that the difference it makes in their lives more than justifies the cost.
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Our editorial team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions are not necessarily those of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under medical supervision, talk to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommendations in this article.
