But they do agree that OD's must present patients with all options. Eyecare practitioners must present a dizzying array of surgical and non-surgical information to patients who want to discuss their choices for myopia correction. Comparisons between contacts, RK, and PRK are made.
Most practitioners say advancements have made both contact lenses and surgical modalities safe.
Comparisons of safety and efficacy can be difficult, however. Haze could reduce best corrected visual acuity even up to a year after the procedure. Binder pointed out that there are a variety of surgical procedures, and the optical complications and risk of permanent vision loss are different for each. In comparing loss of BCVA, Shovlin said the risk from daily wear lenses would be expected to be much less than patients who undergo forms of refractive surgery. Compared with automated lamellar keratoplasty, he said, contact lenses have fewer side effects.