Different Types of Corrective Eye Surgery

While Lasik is the most popular type of corrective eye surgery, it is not the only one available.  While all of the following types of corrective eye surgery are laser surgeries, they each differ slightly in method and success rate.

LASEK

Similar to Lasik, it’s often performed on people with thin corneas who would make poor candidates for Lasik eye surgery.  With Lasek eye surgery, only the outer layer of the cornea is cut, therefore not as much of the cornea is removed. Since alcohol is used to loosen the flap, the risk to the cornea is not as great.  It is a newer corrective eye surgery and is used to treat astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness.

Lasek surgery can result in longer healing time. Although a blade is used with Lasek, it is a finer blade than the microkeratome that is used with Lasik.  While patients who have Lasik eye surgery often see well the day after surgery, Lasek patients may take up to two weeks to see well again.  The biggest drawback to Lasek eye surgery is longer recovery time, as patients have to take more time off from work.

Epi-LASIK

No blade or alcohol is used to cut through the cornea, instead a plastic separator is used to separate the epithelial sheet from the eye.  The same excimer laser used in Lasik is used in Epi-Lasik to reshape the corneal tissue.  After this corrective eye surgery, a special contact lens is used to keep the epithelial flap in place until it reattaches itself.  People  can usually see well enough to drive after about a week however, it may take up to six months to see the final results.

Bladeless LASIK

Also very similar to regular Lasik eye surgery except that no blade is used to create the flap.  Instead another laser is used.  IntraLase, the technology used to create the flap may be safer than regular Lasik eye surgery which uses a bladed instrument to create the flap.  Although complications are relatively rare, an oscillating blade presents more opportunity for an accident to occur.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

With PRK corrective eye surgery, no flap is made in the cornea at all.  Instead, the surgeon skips right to the next step and uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea.  If you’re nearsighted, the surgeon will attempt to flatten the cornea, which is too steep.  If you’re farsighted, the surgeon will attempt to make the cornea steeper.

When considering laser eye surgery, get all the facts before you make an informed decision.  Although the success rates for these types of surgeries are impressive, no corrective eye surgery is one hundred percent safe or successful.

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