Home » Services » Eye Health Services » Refractive Surgery in Lake Worth, FL

Refractive Surgery in Lake Worth, FL

What Is Refractive Surgery?

Clear vision begins with the way the cornea and lens bend incoming light so it lands precisely on the retina, allowing the optic nerve to send accurate visual signals to the brain. When the cornea has an irregular shape, that light cannot refract properly, which causes blurry or distorted vision and contributes to refractive errors like nearsightedness (myopia), farisghtedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia. Many people manage these concerns with eyeglasses or contact lenses, but others prefer a long-term solution that reduces daily maintenance and avoids issues like glasses fog or dry contacts. At Palm Beach Eye Center in Lake Worth, FL, our experienced ophthalmologists offer advanced refractive surgery options that reshape the cornea or use an implantable artificial lens to improve visual acuity and support a more convenient lifestyle. These treatments appeal to individuals who want to wake up with clearer sight, depend less on corrective eyewear, and enjoy sharper, more comfortable vision throughout the day. With personalized assessments and modern diagnostic technology, our board-certified eye doctors help patients explore the most effective approach for their needs. If you’re interested in reducing your dependence on glasses or contacts and want lasting visual clarity, we invite you to schedule a consultation to learn how refractive surgery may support your long-term goals.

What Are the Benefits of Refractive Surgery?

The biggest benefit of refractive surgery is that it provides a safe, long-lasting hyperopia and myopia treatment while helping many patients reduce their dependence on corrective lenses. As technology has advanced, refractive eye procedures have also become a popular choice for those seeking clearer vision and improved quality of life. Some of the other common benefits include:

A quick and relatively painless procedure that uses modern laser vision correction techniques
Refractive surgery has become more affordable, especially with today’s vision correction options
Minimal recovery time supported by advanced surgical technology
The ability to eliminate the need for contacts or glasses and enjoy long-term visual freedom

How Is Refractive Surgery Performed?

At a consultation with one of our Palm Beach Eye Center ophthalmologists near Delray Beach, FL or Lake Worth, FL, we begin with detailed corneal mapping to evaluate your eye health with precision. This advanced corneal diagnostics eye test creates a 3D view of your cornea, allowing us to identify irregularities, assess candidacy for laser vision correction, and determine the best refractive surgery options for your needs. Most patients undergo these procedures on an outpatient basis, which makes them efficient and convenient. Before any refractive surgery, we apply numbing eye drops to keep you comfortable, then use innovative procedure techniques and corneal reshaping procedures to create small corneal incisions and gently reshape the curve of the cornea for clearer, sharper vision. After your procedure, you’ll receive personalized aftercare instructions that typically include using prescribed eye drops and following healing guidelines. Recovery times vary based on your body’s natural response and the type of treatment performed, and our team monitors your progress to support a smooth recovery and ongoing vision improvement treatments.

What Can I Expect After Refractive Surgery?

After refractive surgery, most patients experience improved vision. Immediately following the procedure, you may notice some discomfort, such as dryness, light sensitivity, or mild blurriness, but these symptoms typically subside within a few days. It’s common to have fluctuations in vision during the healing process, with your sight gradually stabilizing over a few weeks to months. You will need to follow your doctor’s post-operative instructions closely, which may include using prescribed eye drops and attending follow-up appointments. As your eyes recover, many patients also track progress related to visual clarity, long-term refractive stability, and overall eye health to ensure the best outcome. While refractive surgery offers lasting results for most, it’s important to understand that complete healing takes time, and you should avoid any activities that could put stress on your eyes during recovery. This is especially helpful when supporting optimal refractive surgery recovery and maintaining healthy vision after surgery.

Who is an Ideal Candidate for Refractive Surgery?

You can be a good candidate for refractive surgery in Lake Worth, FL if you:

Have no significant medical eye problems (like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, etc.)
Don’t deal with dry eye
Your eyes are in good health
Have no history of active corneal disease
Are at least 18 years old
Have a stable eyeglass or contact lens prescription for the last 2 – 3 years
You are in good general health
Have realistic expectations about results and are seeking bold vision correction options for long-term clarity
Want to reduce dependence on glasses or contacts through laser eye surgery in Lake Worth
Are interested in exploring advanced refractive surgery technology with an experienced ophthalmology team

If you have additional questions about refractive surgery and if you’re a candidate, schedule an appointment in our office. We will go over the specifics with you so you are informed about the type of eye care you can receive, including customized refractive treatments and modern surgical vision correction solutions tailored to your needs.

Does Insurance Cover Refractive Surgery?

In most cases, refractive surgery is considered an elective procedure and is not covered by standard health insurance plans. However, some vision insurance providers may offer discounts or limited benefits for laser vision correction. Patients exploring vision correction coverage, refractive surgery insurance options, or laser eye surgery benefits should know that coverage can vary widely. We recommend checking directly with your insurance company or speaking with our team during your consultation to review payment and financing options, including flexible vision care financing and HSA/FSA reimbursement for laser procedures.

Refractive Surgery FAQ

Is refractive surgery safe?
Although all surgeries carry some risks, refractive surgery is generally considered a safe procedure with a very low incident of complications (less than 1%). Large amounts of clinical research and many studies have been done on the safety and efficacy of refractive surgery since its approval by the FDA in 1998. Refractive eye surgeries are one of the most popular and frequently done procedures in the U.S. today, with more than 20 million procedures done with a patient satisfaction rate of 90%.

Is refractive surgery painful?
Refractive surgery does not hurt. Before your procedure, your doctor will numb your eyes with anesthetic drops. These will prevent any possible pain or discomfort. Most patients say they only feel slight pressure during the procedure.

Does refractive surgery improve vision?
Yes, refractive surgery can dramatically improve your vision without the need for glasses or contacts. Typically, you can expect to achieve 20/25 vision or better after your procedure.

Can you go blind from refractive surgery?
There is a common misconception that you can go blind from refractive surgery. The surgery itself does not cause blindness, and complications, while extremely rare (less than 1%), are easily avoidable if you follow the aftercare instructions given to you by your doctor.

Are there any side effects of refractive surgery?
Common side effects include dry eyes, glare, halos, or light sensitivity, but these usually improve over time as the eyes heal.

How long do the results of refractive surgery last?
The effects are generally permanent, but some people may experience vision changes due to aging or other eye conditions over time.

Sharper, Clearer Vision

Having clear eyesight without the use of glasses or contacts could be a dream come true for many South Florida patients. Enabling you to live more comfortably and improving your quality of life, our professional ophthalmologists in Lake Worth, FL or Delray Beach, FL can correct your vision with refractive surgery. At Palm Beach Eye Center, we select the best surgical technique for your eyesight and provide an effective solution for improved visual acuity. With advanced options for bold vision correction, bold refractive eye surgery, and bold laser vision procedures, our team works to deliver long-term clarity tailored to your needs. Please schedule an appointment with our caring team to learn more about treatments, insurance options, and payment plans.