How Laser Eye Surgery Works?

There are 3 main types of laser eye surgery. You are strongly advised to consult your eye doctor or optometrist prior to deciding which laser eye surgery is best suited to you.

Lasik (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis), a type of refractive laser eye surgery performed by ophthalmologists for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The procedure is generally preferred to photorefractive keratectomy, PRK, (also called ASA, Advanced Surface Ablation) because it requires less time for the patient's recovery, and the patient feels less pain, overall; however, there are instances where PRK/ASA is medically indicated as a better alternative to Lasik. Many patients choose Lasik as an alternative to wearing corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Lasik is the newest and most popular type of laser eye surgery. Under this procedure, a thin layer of the eye's cornea is sliced off to create a flap. This enables the laser to target the tissue underneath. The flap is simply replaced and grows back naturally. Recovery usually takes around 24 hours and vision is restored almost immediately. This technique is used to correct a wide range of prescriptions, making it suitable for correcting mild to severe short sight, mild long sight and astigmatism.

Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy (Lasek) involves the partial removal of the outer layer of cells on the eye to reveal the cornea. The cornea is then flattened or reshaped by a laser and the outer cells are pushed back and the eye heals within a few days. This technique is used to correct mild to moderate short sight and astigmatism. Recovery usually takes a few days.

PRK was the standard eye laser surgery for many years. It involved the complete removal of the outer layer of cells on the eye.