Refractive Surgery & LASIK in San Francisco
Personalized LASIK, PRK, and Refractive Lens Exchange Planning
At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, refractive surgery in San Francisco is planned around your eye health, prescription, lifestyle, and long-term visual goals. Dr. Lillie Mosaddegh, a board-certified ophthalmologist, provides careful evaluation for LASIK, PRK, and refractive lens exchange options so patients can understand whether laser vision correction or lens-based vision correction is the safest fit.
Because the ocular surface affects comfort, healing, and visual quality, our team also evaluates and manages dry eye before and after refractive procedures. The goal is not simply to reduce dependence on glasses or contacts, but to protect healthy vision with a customized, medically grounded plan.
Refractive Surgery Explained
Refractive surgery is a group of vision correction procedures designed to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or age-related near vision changes. Some procedures reshape the cornea with a laser, while others use an implanted lens to improve how light focuses on the retina.
Common options include LASIK, PRK, and refractive lens exchange (RLE). The right choice depends on your corneal thickness, prescription stability, tear film health, age, lifestyle, and whether you have other eye conditions. At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, your consultation is designed to determine whether you are a safe candidate and which option best supports your vision goals.
- LASIK may be appropriate for many patients seeking reduced dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
- PRK may be considered for patients who are not ideal LASIK candidates because of corneal or lifestyle factors.
- Clear Lens Exchange / Refractive Lens Exchange may help selected patients, especially those over 40, who want a lens-based option for presbyopia or higher prescriptions.
Vision Correction Options: LASIK, PRK, and RLE
LASIK
At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, LASIK in San Francisco is approached as a highly personalized medical decision. LASIK reshapes the cornea to help correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Before recommending treatment, Dr. Mosaddegh evaluates corneal shape, prescription stability, pupil size, tear film health, and overall eye health.
For patients with dry eye or ocular surface concerns, pre-treatment optimization may be recommended before moving forward. This careful planning helps support comfort, healing, and clearer visual outcomes.
PRK
PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy is a laser vision correction option that reshapes the surface of the cornea without creating a corneal flap. It may be considered for patients who are not ideal candidates for LASIK because of corneal thickness, certain activities, or specific eye health factors.
Although PRK recovery is typically more gradual than LASIK, it can provide excellent long-term vision correction for properly selected patients. At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, the decision between LASIK vs PRK is based on careful measurements and a patient-specific safety assessment.
Clear Lens Exchange / Refractive Lens Exchange
Clear Lens Exchange, also called Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), is a lens-based vision correction procedure that replaces the eye’s natural lens with an intraocular lens. Unlike cataract surgery, RLE is typically performed before a visually significant cataract develops and may be considered for selected patients who want to reduce dependence on glasses or contacts.
Refractive lens exchange is often most relevant for patients over 40 who are experiencing presbyopia, reading vision changes, or higher prescriptions that may not be best addressed with corneal laser surgery. Lens options may include monofocal, toric, extended-depth-of-focus, multifocal, or adjustable lenses depending on measurements and goals.
Schedule a Refractive Surgery Consultation in San Francisco
Find out whether LASIK, PRK, or refractive lens exchange is right for your eyes with a personalized evaluation at Mosaddegh Eye Institute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Candidacy for LASIK, PRK, or refractive lens exchange depends on your prescription, corneal thickness, tear film health, age, eye health, and vision goals. A full refractive surgery consultation in San Francisco helps determine which option is safest for your eyes.
LASIK and PRK both reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors. LASIK involves creating a corneal flap, while PRK treats the corneal surface without a flap. PRK may be recommended for some patients with thinner corneas, certain lifestyle needs, or specific safety considerations.
Dry eye can affect comfort, healing, and quality of vision after laser vision correction. Mosaddegh Eye Institute evaluates the ocular surface before LASIK in San Francisco and may recommend dry eye treatment first to support a healthier surgical plan.
Refractive lens exchange, also called clear lens exchange, replaces the eye’s natural lens with an intraocular lens to reduce dependence on glasses or contacts. It may be considered for selected patients over 40, especially when presbyopia or lens-based vision correction is a better fit than LASIK.
Many patients reduce their dependence on glasses or contacts after refractive surgery, but results vary. Some patients may still need glasses for certain tasks, reading, night driving, or fine-detail work. Your consultation will review realistic expectations for your eyes and lifestyle.
