Carrot LASIK & Eye Center, a LASIK surgeon located in Mesa, Arizona, has outlined the vision correction procedures available to patients who are not candidates for traditional LASIK surgery. For more than two decades, LASIK has been used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and the procedure uses a laser to create a thin corneal flap before reshaping the cornea in about 15 minutes. Factors such as thin corneas, dry eye, or corneal scarring can make some patients ineligible, and for those individuals the practice offers SMILE, PRK, EVO ICL, and Refractive Lens Exchange to patients across Mesa and the broader Phoenix metropolitan area.

Corneal thickness, tear film stability, and overall eye health are among the factors that determine whether LASIK is appropriate, and the same diagnostic process helps identify which alternative may suit a given patient. A detailed overview of these options is available in the practice's published guide to vision correction alternatives to LASIK. SMILE, or small incision lenticule extraction, is available to patients in Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe and surrounding communities and uses a single laser to shape and remove a small piece of tissue called a lenticule through a small incision, without creating the corneal flap used in LASIK. Because no flap is created, SMILE is sometimes considered by athletes and others at risk of eye impact. The practice reports having performed the first SMILE procedure in the Phoenix area in February 2020. Refractive Lens Exchange, or RLE, follows a process similar to cataract surgery and is offered to patients ages 50+ throughout Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Chandler whose vision has changed with age. RLE replaces the eye's clear natural lens with an intraocular lens, and a range of lens options can address presbyopia as well as astigmatism in patients who do not qualify for LASIK. These lenses are selected based on each patient's vision needs.

EVO ICL, an implantable collamer lens, is available to residents of Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix and surrounding communities and differs from RLE because the implanted lens works alongside the eye's natural lens rather than replacing it. The lens is placed between the iris and the natural lens through a small incision in a procedure that takes about 15 minutes, and it is an option for patients with thin corneas or dry eye who are not LASIK candidates. PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, preceded LASIK and remains available to patients in Mesa, Tempe and Scottsdale. During PRK, a surgeon removes the thin outer layer of the cornea before an excimer laser reshapes it, and after the procedure a non-prescription contact lens is placed over each eye to protect the surface while it heals. PRK can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism for patients who are not suited to LASIK.

Carrot LASIK & Eye Center is led by co-founder Matthew Hammond, M.D., board-certified ophthalmologist, Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery, and co-founder of Carrot LASIK & Eye Center, along with Michael Herion, M.D., board-certified ophthalmologist, retina fellowship-trained surgeon, and Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery at Carrot LASIK & Eye Center. Both surgeons served in the United States military, both are Castle Connolly Top Doctors, and both have undergone vision correction surgery themselves at the practice, which holds Joint Commission National Quality Approval. "Not every patient who wants to reduce dependence on glasses or contacts is a candidate for LASIK, and that does not mean they are out of options," said Dr. Hammond. "Because we perform seven vision correction procedures under one roof, we can examine each patient's eyes and recommend the approach that fits their anatomy and their goals, whether that is SMILE, PRK, or a lens-based procedure like EVO ICL or RLE."

Carrot LASIK & Eye Center is located at 1500 S Dobson Road, Suite 313, in Mesa, Arizona, and serves patients throughout Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, and Gilbert. Candidacy for each procedure is determined through a diagnostic evaluation the practice calls advanced ocular analysis, which examines the health of the eye before a vision correction option is recommended. Both surgeons personally meet with patients before and after surgery and provide surgical patients with their personal cell phone numbers. Driving directions to the office are available through Google Maps.

Carrot LASIK & Eye Center provides LASIK along with vision correction alternatives including SMILE, PRK, EVO ICL, and Refractive Lens Exchange in Mesa, Arizona. Additional information about the practice and its services is available through its Google Business Profile. Patients across the Phoenix metropolitan area who are not candidates for LASIK can schedule a consultation to determine which vision correction procedure is appropriate for their needs.

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For more information about Carrot LASIK & Eye Center, contact the company here:

Carrot LASIK & Eye Center
Carrot LASIK
(480) 561-6000
info@carroteyecenter.com
1500 S Dobson Rd #313, Mesa, AZ 85202