Refractive Surgery

Henry Ford offers many options for eye refractive surgery, including LASIK, PRK and refractive lens exchange.

All common refractive errors – including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia (natural, age-related decrease in reading vision) – can be improved through refractive surgery. Eye refractive surgery improves vision and decreases or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Eye refractive surgery experts

Henry Ford is a leader in refractive surgery, using the latest in refractive technology to correct refractive errors. Our expert surgeons will complete a thorough evaluation of your eyes and recommend the procedure we feel is safest and best for your eyes.

Refractive surgery procedures

Our refractive surgeons are experienced in all types of refractive surgery, including:

• LASIK: Laser in-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is the most common refractive surgery. During this laser vision correction procedure, surgeons create a flap of corneal tissue, which is then folded back, allowing a laser to reshape the cornea’s inner layers. At the end of the surgery, the corneal flap is replaced, aiding in vision improvement and rate of recovery.
• PRK: Photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) is a refractive surgery alternative to LASIK, commonly used for patients with thin corneas. During PRK, no corneal flap is created. Instead, the epithelium – the cornea’s outermost layer – is removed in part or entirely and then a laser reshapes the underlying cornea. PRK only affects the cornea’s outer layers. Your Henry Ford Ophthalmologist can help you determine if LASIK or PRK is right for you.
• Refractive lens exchange: Also known as clear lens extraction, this eye refractive surgery involves exchanging the natural eye lens for a replacement lens. We offer custom replacement lenses for most vision needs, including toric lenses for astigmatism and multifocal lenses for those who might normally get bifocals or trifocals.
• Monovision: This refractive surgery corrects your vision by using intraocular implants to make your dominant eye responsible for focusing on objects in the distance and your non-dominant eye responsible for seeing close up. Monovision may be included as part of a refractive lens exchange procedure to correct presbyopia, as part of a LASIK or PRK procedure or as part of cataract surgery. Monovision is helpful for near-vision tasks such as reading your watch, opening the mail, or scanning a menu or article. However, sometimes you may need a pair of reading glasses if you need to read for a prolonged time.

At Henry Ford, patients come first.

The Henry Ford Department of Ophthalmology is committed to providing our patients with compassionate, personalized care. We feature the most advanced treatments in eye care and are dedicated to vision research – always staying at the forefront of innovation. A leader in Michigan, as well as one of the largest ophthalmology practices in the United States, we treat more than 55,000 patients per year at  several locations  throughout southeast Michigan. In addition, our team works closely with Henry Ford Medical Group physicians in other departments, providing multidisciplinary, coordinated care for those patients who need it.