Types of laser eye surgery

Since 1991, laser eye surgery has continuously evolved, introducing new and improved technologies. The result is laser vision correction is now available to more people than ever. So, while LASIK is the most common procedure for people between 18 and 40 years of age, people who have previously not been suitable, such as those with thin corneas, can now have laser vision correction. 

LASIK

LASIK (Laser in Situ Keratomileusis) is the most common procedure used for laser vision correction. It involves two steps – a femtosecond laser or a blade to ‘create a flap’, then an excimer laser to re-contour the corneal bed to your specific prescription requirements.

Both eyes are operated on the same day. No sutures are required – the eye has a natural ability to hold the corneal flap in place. You can resume most of your normal activities on the following day (although you’ll be required to visit your doctor for a follow up consultation). Depending on your prescription, some patients notice an immediate improvement shortly after the operation and will find that by the next day, they achieve the legal driving requirements and can read small print. Naturally, it takes a few days to a few weeks for your vision to reach its optimal ability. 

IntraLase is the latest femtosecond technology used for performing the initial step during LASIK surgery. The IntraLase laser is extremely fast, using precise pulses of energy with great accuracy to create a flap in the surface corneal tissue.

Advanced Surface Laser (ASLA)

If you have thin, irregular or unstable corneas, you’re generally not suitable for LASIK. However, you most likely will be suitable for ASLA. Advanced Surface Laser is also known by terms such as ASL, PRK, LASEK, Nu-LASIK or Epi-LASIK. 

This procedure skips the first step using the femtosecond laser and actually lasers the surface of your cornea. The difference between the ASLA and LASIK procedures is the recovery time, which is usually longer for ASLA than with LASIK. It can take 4 or more days for you to achieve useful vision, and your eyes might feel gritty and sore for a few days.

Some people may know this procedure as PRK (PhotoRefractive Keratectomy). PRK is actually the very first type of laser vision surgery to have been developed. It started in 1987, but became less frequently used as LASIK was introduced and became more prominent in the mid 1990′s. With PRK, unlike LASIK, no corneal flap is created. ASLA has superseded most PRK procedures – while PRK is still performed, surgeons at Vision Eye Institute consider the ASLA procedure to provide our patients with more consistently superior results.

Monovision/Laser Blended Vision

Monovision is the use of one eye for distance vision, the other for near (reading) vision. Using the same laser technology as when performing LASIK, your ophthalmologist will correct your dominant eye for distance, and the other for close work. 

The procedure is commonly performed on patients over the age of forty and have noticed that their reading vision is being affected due to natural changes within the eye that reduces the ability to focus on near work. This condition is called presbyopia.  

The surgery often involves only correcting one eye – that marvelous organ, the brain, then does the rest of the work. 

Again, not everyone is suited to monovision or laser blended vision. The best way to know if you’re suitable is to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist.  Once they assess your suitability, you can ‘test drive’ monovision by wearing a pair of thin contact lenses for a few hours (part of your assessment). 

Laser cataract/laser lens surgery

Click here for more information on laser cataract surgery.