Advances in eye care have been rapid in recent years. Glasses and contact lenses are no longer the only options for correcting vision, and there are also treatments for a number of eye maladies. This week on Health Watch, we’ll talk about some things doctors can do for your eyes.

Nearsighted people who aren’t good candidates for laser surgery to reshape the eye may be able to get rid of glasses or contact lenses with a new kind of implantable lens. Dr. Wayne Bowman, an ophthalmologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the new lens is like an implanted contact lens. It’s put in front of the eye’s natural lens instead of replacing the lens, and is best for people with moderate to severe nearsightedness who don’t yet need reading glasses. It only takes about fifteen minutes to insert the lens, and patients usually see an improvement soon. The lens can be surgically removed, if necessary.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/ophth to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in eyes (ophthalmology).