LASIK and PRK laser vision correction are often excellent options for patients with refractive errors who are considering a long-term solution for their vision impairment. However, for those with high degrees of nearsightedness and /or astigmatism, these surgeries may not be an appropriate option. In many cases of severe nearsightedness, the cornea is too thin to treat with laser vision correction techniques. When this is the case, surgically implanted contacts called phakic intraocular lenses or implant contact lenses (ICL) may be an excellent alternative. These specialty devices act like semi-permanent contact lenses and work to correct nearsightedness and/or astigmatism, improving your ability to focus without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Dr. Alison R. Tendler, the leader and owner of ART Vision in Sioux Falls, SD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and certified in EVO Visian ICL™ implantable contact lenses, has the extensive knowledge and experience necessary to determine the best treatment option for individuals who seek a long-term solution to their vision needs. Schedule a consultation to learn more about your treatment options.

At ART Vision, we offer several ICL solutions. The most popular among our brands include:

The Visian ICL (implantable collamer lens) is placed behind the iris and does not require the natural lens to be removed. This is an excellent alternative to laser vision correction surgeries, like LASIK and PRK, and is the refractive surgery procedure that Dr. Tendler chose for herself. The lens is FDA approved for the correction of nearsightedness and astigmatism.

The Verisyse ICL is an implantable lens made of medical-grade polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) that is placed in front of your iris. The Verisyse is FDA approved for the correction of nearsightedness only.

Those most likely to benefit from ICLs are those with moderate to severe nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism, and who are between the ages of 21 – 45 years old. Certain medical conditions may prevent you from being considered a candidate for ICLs. This includes eye diseases, such as glaucoma, iritis, or diabetic retinopathy. During a consultation at ART Vision, Dr. Tendler will discuss your medical history, lifestyle, and refractive error to determine a treatment method that will work for you and help to meet your unique needs.

Prior to your procedure day, Dr. Tendler will perform a peripheral iridotomy (YAG PI) to reduce any chance of pressure buildup within your eye due to the ICL placement. The ICL insertion, itself, is a brief procedure that is completed on an outpatient basis in the comfort of our ART Vision facility. Light anesthesia will be used while your ICLs are placed to keep you comfortable and relaxed. To complete the surgery, Dr. Tendler creates a very small incision at the outer edge of your cornea before folding the lens and inserting it through the incision and placing it into the proper position in the eye. From start to finish, the procedure should last no more than 15-30 minutes. Unlike other refractive laser procedures, only one eye is done at a time.

Your vision will be noticeably better almost immediately following the surgery and will continue to improve over the coming days. You will be able to return to work and most of your daily activities soon after your procedure. Patients should be careful not to rub or touch the eyes for five days after their placement surgery. An initial follow-up appointment will be scheduled by our team and will take place the same day, only a few hours after your procedure. Other appointments will be required so that Dr. Tendler can ensure you are recovering and healing well.

If you are in search of a long-term solution for your vision impairment and have moderate to severe nearsightedness with or without astigmatism, schedule a consultation at our Sioux Falls, SD office today. Even if you were told you could not have LASIK, there may still be alternatives for you. Dr. Alison R. Tendler can help reduce the impact of your nearsightedness in a fast and effective ICL placement procedure that will improve your vision and quality of life for years to come. Contact our helpful team today to set up your appointment at ART Vision. Let us help make the lifestyle change you seek so you can See the World Better and See Yourself Better.

Call us at 605.306.2020 / Schedule an appointment

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) was the very first form of laser vision correction surgery. It was designed to correct and improve common refractive vision errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. The PRK procedure consists of removing the thin outer layer of the cornea and reshaping the corneal tissue with a laser so that light can focus better on the retina. Though LASIK is often the go-to for laser vision correction today, PRK is a wonderful option for patients whose corneas are too thin for LASIK or when LASIK is not appropriate. The results provided by PRK are the same as other forms of vision correction, but the recovery is a bit longer. During an individualized consultation with board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Alison R. Tendler at her private practice, ART Vision in Sioux Falls, SD, you can learn more about laser vision correction surgery and whether you are a candidate for PRK.

During your consultation at ART Vision, Dr. Tendler will perform an eye exam and determine characteristics such as the shape and thickness of your cornea, your refractive error, tear production, and the overall health of your eye before recommending PRK. The best candidates for PRK laser vision correction are at least 18 years of age, are not suffering from any ocular disease, and are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Ideal candidates for PRK are often not candidates for LASIK surgery. Other vision correction options may include implantable contact lenses (ICLs) or refractive lens exchange (RLE).

Immediately prior to your surgery, you will be offered mild oral sedation. Once you are at ease and ready for your procedure to begin, a member of Dr. Tendler's team will administer a numbing eye drop to both eyes before positioning an eyelid holder. This will keep your eyes open during surgery. First, Dr. Tendler will gently remove a thin portion of corneal tissue from the outer surface of the eye. Next, using a state-of-the-art excimer laser, your cornea will be reshaped to match your correction, allowing Dr. Tendler to change your vision for better clarity. This process is then repeated on the other eye. After finishing the laser portion of the procedure, a contact lens is placed in both eyes, protecting them from outside influence and to keep your eyes more comfortable while they begin the healing process. From start to finish, PRK surgery only lasts a few minutes.

The temporary contact lens that is serving as a bandage will help improve comfort as you heal. Patients can expect moderate discomfort in the first 3-4 days following surgery. Vision will fluctuate during that time. You will be able to return to work or school and begin driving again at about five days post-surgery. Over the coming weeks, you will need to attend several follow-up visits with ART Vision or your primary eye doctor, so that Dr. Tendler can monitor your recovery. Sensitivity to light could last as long as four weeks post-procedure. Most ART Vision patients report feeling back to normal in as little as one month after PRK with vision that continues to improve over the six months post-procedure.

PRK can help you live a higher quality life with clearer vision, giving you the confidence you seek by living freer from the need for glasses and contacts. If you are not a candidate for LASIK vision correction, you can still seek the visual freedom you desire and deserve with PRK. Contact our Sioux Falls, SD facility today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Alison R. Tendler and learn how quickly we can change your life with PRK so you can See the World Better and See Yourself Better.

Call us at 605.306.2020 / Schedule an appointment

Many men and women notice a stark decline in their near visual acuity as they begin to age. This common occurrence is associated with the progressive vision loss known as presbyopia, which is quite simply age-related vision loss. A patient who had clear, crisp vision their entire life can be diagnosed with presbyopia after reaching the age of 40. Quite often, patients explain that their vision isn't as clear as it once was and that they are beginning to struggle to see clearly when reading a book or using their smartphone. You may feel the need to hold an object further away from your eyes when reading it. ART Vision in Sioux Falls, SD offers comprehensive surgery consultations, diagnostic testing, and treatment options for patients who are experiencing the early onset of presbyopia and are tired of wearing reading glasses. Begin exploring advanced treatment options with ART Vision to diminish your need for reading glasses.

The most common symptom of presbyopia is the blurring of words and objects that are nearby. This typically begins at or around the age of 40 when the lenses of your eyes begin to lose a bit of their youthful flexibility. This is also called dysfunctional lens syndrome. Patients often begin to move things further away from their eyes so they can read/view them more clearly. It is very common for patients with undiagnosed presbyopia to believe their blurred vision is caused by poor lighting. Patients may also experience:

• Headaches

• Migraines

• Eye strain

• Fatigue

• Eye pain after time spent reading, working on the computer, or using a smartphone or tablet

Where other common refractive errors (need for glasses) are caused by the unique shape of the eye, presbyopia is simply caused by the natural aging process of the lens. This will happen to everybody at some point. As we age, the natural lens of our eye becomes more and more dysfunctional. The lens proteins and fibers begin to thicken and harden, decreasing the its flexibility and ability to focus up close like it used to. Clarity is also decreased as the muscle fibers in the eyes change. Together, this dysfunctional lens syndrome makes it difficult for your eyes to focus on nearby items and objects as they did when they were younger.

ART Vision is proud to offer a number of long-term surgical correction options for the treatment of presbyopia, including laser, corneal inlays, and custom lens exchange. Following a detailed examination and diagnostic testing, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Alison R. Tendler can meet with you during a comprehensive consultation to discuss your treatment options for vision correction surgery and to determine if you are an ideal candidate. Surgeries, such as PRK, LASIK, corneal inlays, and custom lens exchange have proven highly effective in the treatment of presbyopia for long-term relief and clearer, crisper near vision. ART Vision prides itself in helping you See the World Better and See Yourself Better. By reducing or eliminating your need for reading glasses, we can help you create the vision lifestyle you desire.

At ART Vision in Sioux Falls, SD, our team of highly trained professionals understand the sensitivity of matters involving your vision. If you are experiencing the symptoms of presbyopia or any other refractive error, we encourage you to contact ART Vision today to schedule an appointment. Using the utmost compassion, advanced technologies, and proven treatment methods, our team will work together to provide you with the best possible option for improved vision and creating the vision lifestyle you desire. Let us help you explore your options so you can begin to See the World Better and See Yourself Better.

Call us at 605.306.2020 / Schedule an appointment

At ART Vision in Sioux Falls, SD, our team, led by board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Alison R. Tendler, is highly skilled in the diagnosis of nearsightedness and is equipped to recommend advanced vision correction solutions that will improve your overall quality of life to fit your lifestyle. Known as myopia by physicians, nearsightedness is one of the most common vision impairments, making objects at a distance tough to see with clarity. Individuals that are nearsighted typically see normally up close but have difficulty seeing clearly when viewing images that are at a distance. Nearsightedness affects roughly 30 percent of American men and women. But the great news is that there are several effective options available to cope with or correct your vision. If you have noticed a decline in your vision and are having trouble seeing from a distance, contact ART Vision in Sioux Falls, SD to schedule a consultation and begin exploring your surgical treatment options.

While the most prominent sign of nearsightedness is the inability to see objects clearly when at a distance, other common symptoms may include:

• Frequent headaches

• Eye strain

• Fatigue

Patients who were previously diagnosed with nearsightedness and have been prescribed eyeglasses or contacts but feel their lifestyle is impaired by their dependence upon these devices should schedule a consultation at ART Vision for a secondary opinion.

Generally speaking, the cause of myopia is a longer shaped eyeball or cornea that has a high curve. When light cannot properly focus on the back of the eye, objects and items appear blurred at certain distances. Nearsightedness is most often diagnosed in school-aged children, especially those who have a family history of vision impairment.

Before a surgical treatment plan is created, a member of our team will take special measures to properly diagnose your condition. Next, we will ask questions about your lifestyle and medical history. Finally, we will have you meet with Dr. Tendler to discuss your laser vision correction options. Surgeries, such as LASIK, PRK, or implantable contact lenses (ICLs) can greatly improve your vision and provide you with a long-lasting solution that may reduce or even eliminate your need for eyeglasses or contacts.

If your need for glasses or contacts are causing unpleasant symptoms and decreasing your overall quality of life, you deserve a solution that will address the root cause of the issue. At ART Vision, we pride ourselves on providing care that helps our patients take back their lives. Contact us at our Sioux Falls, SD facility today to schedule your consultation and discuss the surgery options we offer for myopia. Let us help you obtain the vision lifestyle you desire so you can See the World Better and See Yourself Better.

Call us at 605.306.2020 / Schedule an appointment