You deserve to see the world clearly on your own terms.
Clear vision without glasses or contacts transforms how you experience daily life, from checking your phone in the morning to exercising without visual aids. In recent years, modern vision correction technology has reached the next level of sophistication, with procedures tailored to different ages, prescriptions, and eye characteristics.
Patients now have access to multiple advanced options, designed to match different eyes, prescriptions, and lifestyles. Dell Laser Consultants provides the full spectrum of modern procedures, from laser reshaping to implantable lenses to lens replacement options.
This guide covers everything you need to know about modern vision correction, from how each procedure works to which candidates benefit most, helping you move forward with confidence!
Are You a Candidate for Modern Vision Correction?
The advanced vision correction procedures available today at modern vision correction practices are able to accommodate a broad spectrum of patients and prescriptions, serving people with almost any type of prescription or age-related vision change.
However, your age, prescription type, and overall eye health play key roles in determining which option suits you best. A comprehensive consultation with the modern vision correction specialists at Dell Laser Consultants will reveal which procedures align with your specific vision needs, vision goals, and daily life.
During your consultation, advanced diagnostic equipment measures everything from your prescription strength to your corneal structure, allowing the team to match you with the procedure that offers the best outcomes for your unique eyes.
Dell Laser Consultants offers multiple advanced options for vision correction, each designed for specific vision challenges and lifestyle needs.
Comparing Modern Vision Correction Options
| Procedure | Best For | What It Corrects | Key Benefits |
| LASIK | Ages 18+, adequate corneal thickness, stable prescription | Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism | Proven track record, minimal discomfort, most achieve 20/20 vision or better |
| EVO ICL | Ages 21-45, high prescriptions, thin corneas, those seeking reversible option | Moderate to high nearsightedness, astigmatism | Reversible, preserves cornea, built-in UV protection, excellent night vision |
| SMILE | Ages 18+, active lifestyles, athletes, physically demanding jobs | Nearsightedness, astigmatism | Minimally invasive (2-4mm incision), reduced dry eye risk, preserves corneal strength, next-day return to work |
| RLE with Premium IOLs | Ages 45+, presbyopia, high prescriptions, those wanting to prevent cataracts | Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia | Addresses age-related vision changes, eliminates future cataract surgery, corrects all distances with premium lenses, permanent solution |
LASIK
What Is LASIK?
LASIK is one of the most well-known and trusted refractive procedures, as it has been around for decades. However, with modern technology and sophisticated systems, LASIK has become even more reliable, accurate and safe than ever before.
The procedure reshapes the cornea, the clear front surface of your eye, to correct how light focuses on your retina. This correction addresses refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
At Dell Laser Consultants, our LASIK surgeons use advanced, custom wavefront-guided LASIK, which takes personalization further by mapping the unique characteristics of your eye to create a treatment plan as individual as your fingerprint.
How Does LASIK Work?
During LASIK, your surgeon will create a thin corneal flap using a precise laser. After gently lifting this flap, a second laser reshapes the underlying corneal tissue according to your specific prescription. The flap is then repositioned, where it naturally heals during recovery without stitches.
The entire process takes roughly 15 minutes per eye. Numbing drops ensure comfort during the procedure, with most patients feeling only gentle pressure.
LASIK Recovery
Many LASIK patients notice an improvement in their vision within 24 hours and are able to return to work within a day or two. You’ll use prescribed eye drops for several weeks to promote healing and prevent infection.
Some temporary dryness or mild discomfort may occur during the first few days. It’s important, especially with LASIK, to avoid rubbing your eyes. Also, make sure you follow all post-procedure instructions carefully. Most people resume regular activities, including exercise, within a week, while complete healing continues over the following months.
LASIK Candidacy
Good candidates for LASIK generally meet these criteria:
- Age 18 or older with stable vision for at least one year
- Adequate corneal thickness
- No active eye diseases or certain systemic conditions
- Realistic expectations about outcomes
- Prescription within treatable ranges for LASIK technology
LASIK Benefits
LASIK offers proven results backed by decades of research and millions of successful procedures. The quick visual recovery appeals to busy professionals and those with fast-paced lives. Most patients achieve 20/20 vision or better, with many experiencing immediate improvement in daily activities from driving to reading to sports. The procedure requires no bandages or stitches, and discomfort remains minimal throughout recovery.
Is LASIK Modern Vision Correction?
Yes, LASIK qualifies as modern vision correction, especially with today’s advanced technology. Custom wavefront-guided LASIK uses sophisticated mapping systems to create highly personalized treatments based on your eye’s unique characteristics. The femtosecond lasers and precision equipment used today represent significant advancements over earlier versions of the procedure, offering safer outcomes and faster recovery times.
EVO ICL
What Is EVO ICL?
EVO ICL achieves vision correction by adding rather than removing. Rather than reshaping your cornea, this procedure adds a tiny lens inside your eye that works with your natural lens. The implantable collamer lens sits between your iris and natural lens, correcting your prescription without removing any corneal tissue. The collamer material is biocompatible, designed to work harmoniously with your eye’s natural chemistry.
How Does the EVO ICL Work?
First, your surgeon makes a tiny opening to insert the folded lens. Once inside, the lens gently unfolds into position. The procedure takes approximately 15 minutes per eye and uses numbing drops for comfort.
Because the procedure preserves your cornea completely, the lens can be removed or replaced if your vision needs change in the future.
Recovery From EVO ICL
Like LASIK, most patients notice improved vision immediately. You’ll use anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops for several weeks following the procedure. Stability typically arrives within a few days, though complete healing continues over several weeks.
Many people return to work within a day or two. However, you’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise and swimming for a few weeks while your eyes heal.
EVO ICL Candidacy
EVO ICL works particularly well for:
- Adults between 21-45 years old
- Moderate to high myopia prescriptions
- Patients with thin corneas unsuitable for laser correction
- Those who value the reversible nature of the procedure
- People seeking preserved corneal tissue
EVO ICL Benefits
The EVO lens includes built-in UV protection, shielding your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. No permanent tissue removal means your options remain open for future treatments if needed. As an added benefit, many patients report excellent night vision quality.
The quick procedure time and immediate vision improvement make EVO appealing for those who want rapid results. The reversible nature also provides peace of mind for patients who appreciate flexibility.
Is EVO ICL Modern Vision Correction?
Absolutely. EVO ICL represents one of the newest approaches to vision correction available today. The biocompatible collamer material, minimally invasive technique, and reversible nature make this procedure a cutting-edge option. Unlike older methods, EVO ICL preserves your natural cornea entirely while providing immediate vision improvement, making it a true advancement in refractive technology.
SMILE
What Is SMILE Eye Surgery?
SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. This minimally invasive laser procedure corrects nearsightedness and astigmatism using the advanced ZEISS VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser. Dell Laser Consultants became the first practice in Austin to offer this breakthrough technology.
The procedure takes just nine seconds of laser time, making it one of the fastest vision correction options available.
How Does SMILE Work?
The laser creates a small, lens-shaped piece of tissue called a lenticule within your cornea. Your surgeon removes this lenticule through a tiny incision measuring only 2-4mm. This removal reshapes your cornea to correct your vision. Unlike LASIK, SMILE requires no corneal flap, which preserves more of your cornea’s structural integrity and nerves.
SMILE Recovery
Vision improvement begins within 24 hours for most patients. The minimally invasive approach means less disruption to corneal nerves, often resulting in reduced dry eye compared to other laser procedures.
Many people return to work the next day. Most regular activities can resume within a few days, with full healing continuing over several weeks.
SMILE Candidacy
Good candidates for SMILE generally meet these criteria:
- Age 18 or older with stable vision for at least one year
- Nearsightedness with or without astigmatism
- Good overall eye health
- Adequate corneal thickness
- Realistic expectations about outcomes
- Active lifestyle or physically demanding profession
SMILE Benefits
The small incision preserves corneal strength, making SMILE attractive for athletes and people in physically demanding professions. Reduced nerve disruption typically means better comfort during healing and less dry eye long-term.
The rapid visual recovery and quick return to activities appeal to active lifestyles. Most patients achieve 20/20 vision or better, gaining freedom from glasses and contacts with minimal downtime.
Is SMILE Modern Vision Correction?
SMILE stands as one of the most advanced laser vision correction procedures available. The ZEISS VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser technology used in SMILE represents the latest generation of refractive surgery equipment. With its minimally invasive approach, nine-second laser time, and reduced impact on corneal nerves, SMILE exemplifies modern innovation in vision correction.
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
What Is Refractive Lens Exchange?
RLE involves removing your eye’s natural lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens. The procedure uses the same proven techniques as cataract surgery, but the goal is vision correction rather than removing a cataract. This option works particularly well for people over 45 experiencing presbyopia or those with prescriptions outside the range treatable by laser procedures.
How Does Refractive Lens Exchange Work?
Using numbing drops for comfort, your surgeon creates a small, self-sealing incision in your cornea. Ultrasonic energy gently breaks up your natural lens, which is then removed. The new intraocular lens slides through the same small incision and positions itself where your natural lens was located. The procedure takes 15-30 minutes per eye.
Refractive Lens Exchange Recovery
Vision typically improves within a few days. You’ll use prescription eye drops to reduce inflammation and prevent infection. Most people return to work within a week, though complete healing continues over several weeks. It’s important to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities initially and to follow all post-procedure care instructions to ensure optimal healing.
Refractive Lens Exchange Candidacy
RLE works particularly well for:
- Adults over 45 experiencing presbyopia
- High prescriptions outside the range for laser correction
- Those with thin corneas unsuitable for LASIK or SMILE
- People who want to prevent future cataracts
- Patients seeking permanent vision correction
- Those with early lens changes affecting vision quality
Refractive Lens Exchange Benefits
RLE permanently corrects your vision while eliminating the possibility of developing cataracts in the future, and your artificial lens will never cloud. This dual benefit appeals to many patients over 50. RLE can restore your ability to see clearly at all distances, reducing or eliminating your need for reading glasses, depending on the lens you choose. The procedure also corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism at the same time.
Is Refractive Lens Exchange Modern Vision Correction?
Yes, RLE with premium IOLs represents modern vision correction at its most sophisticated. Today’s advanced intraocular lenses offer features like multifocal vision, astigmatism correction, and even post-surgical customization with the Light Adjustable Lens. These technological advancements make RLE a contemporary solution that addresses multiple vision challenges simultaneously while preventing future cataracts.
Premium IOLs
What Are Premium IOLs?
Premium intraocular lenses offer advanced features beyond standard lenses. Standard monofocal lenses can provide excellent clarity at one distance, typically distance vision, with reading glasses needed for close work. However, during RLE or cataract surgery, you can choose from several premium options designed to match your vision goals and lifestyle needs.
- Multifocal lenses offer multiple focal points, allowing clear vision at various distances.
- Extended depth of focus lenses provide a continuous range of vision with fewer visual disturbances.
- Toric lenses specifically address astigmatism while correcting other refractive errors.
- Light Adjustable Lenses allow you to customize your vision outcomes.
What Is the Light Adjustable Lens and How Does It Work?
The Light Adjustable Lens stands apart from other IOL options. This photosensitive lens can be customized after surgery through a series of painless UV light treatments.
Following your RLE or cataract surgery, you’ll attend approximately one to three adjustment sessions spaced a few days apart. During these 90-second treatments, your eye doctor uses a specialized Light Delivery Device to reshape your lens by focusing UV light on it.
Between sessions, you’ll test your vision in real-world situations like driving, reading, and using computers, and provide feedback. If adjustments are needed, your doctor can fine-tune the lens at your next appointment until your vision matches your preferences.
Two final “lock-in” treatments permanently set your customized vision. The entire adjustment process typically occurs over several weeks following your initial surgery.
Premium IOL Candidacy
You might be a good candidate for premium IOLs if you:
- Are undergoing cataract surgery or RLE
- Want to reduce dependence on glasses at multiple distances
- Have realistic expectations about visual outcomes
- Are willing to invest in advanced lens technology
- Have good overall eye health
- Don’t have certain retinal conditions that could affect results
Premium IOL Benefits
Premium IOLs offer customized solutions for different visual needs. Patients who choose multifocal or extended depth of focus lenses often reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses for most activities.
The Light Adjustable Lens provides unmatched personalization, allowing you to literally test-drive different vision settings before finalizing your results. This customization capability means higher satisfaction rates and vision quality tailored precisely to your daily activities and preferences.
The permanent nature of premium IOLs means your investment in clear vision lasts a lifetime.
Are Premium IOLs Considered Modern Vision Correction?
Premium IOLs represent cutting-edge vision correction technology. These advanced lenses offer features that go far beyond basic implants, allowing you to see clearly at multiple distances and correcting astigmatism. The Light Adjustable Lens pushes innovation even further as the only lens that can be fine-tuned after your procedure. These advancements make premium IOLs an excellent modern solution for patients seeking freedom from glasses.
Dr. Dell’s reputation as a leader in his field made me much more comfortable with the decision to go forward with laser vision correction, after contemplating it for some time. Dr. Dell and the staff at Dell Laser Consultants are exceptional, and the results of the procedure have exceeded my expectations. My only regret is that I did not go to Dell Laser Consultants years ago.
– Modern Vision Correction Patient
How Much Does Modern Vision Correction Cost?
The investment in modern vision correction varies based on which procedure best suits your eyes, the level of correction needed, and the technology used. Your prescription complexity, any additional vision issues like astigmatism, and your choice of standard versus advanced technology all influence the final cost.
Dell Laser Consultants offers multiple financing options to make vision correction accessible. During your consultation, the team will review all financial options and help you develop a payment plan that fits your budget.
Want to Learn More About Modern Vision Correction?
Exploring your vision correction options begins with a comprehensive consultation.
During this detailed evaluation, the team at Dell Laser Consultants examines your eye health, measures your prescription precisely, and discusses your lifestyle needs and visual goals.
Testing includes prescription measurements, corneal thickness evaluation, eye pressure checks, and overall ocular health assessment. You’ll meet with an experienced surgeon who explains which procedures suit your eyes and why, walking through benefits, considerations, and what to expect during recovery.
Do you want to learn more about modern vision correction or determine which option might be right for you? Schedule a consultation at Dell Laser Consultants in Austin, TX, today to get on the path to clearer vision!
