Types of Laser Eye Surgery
Our goal is to prepare you for making laser eye surgery decisions by giving you all the information you need. Although your surgery will be performed by an ophthalmologist, our team at Queensway Optometric Clinic is there to support you throughout the process.
We provide consultation on 2 common and successful types of eye surgeries. We will make sure you are informed and confident before committing to a corrective surgery.
LASIK
LASIK is one of the most popular forms of refractive surgical procedures in the world. It was specifically designed to minimize the likelihood of infection and reduce the amount of recovery time required. During the procedure, the ophthalmologist creates a tiny flap in the outer layers of the cornea, then carefully folds it back to reveal the middle layers.
The ophthalmologist then reshapes the middle corneal layers using a laser to precisely correct your refractive error. Once the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is carefully folded back into place, and the surgery is complete.
LASIK patients typically enjoy clear vision within 24 hours of their operation and can expect their vision to fully stabilize within one week.
PRK
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was the first type of laser eye surgery available. The major difference between PRK and LASIK is the initial method by which the doctor gains access to the corneal tissue.
During PRK, the outer layer of the cornea (called the epithelium) is removed and a laser is used on the cornea to correct the refraction error. With PRK, the healing process involves giving the epithelium time to repair itself, a process that takes a few days.
Though LASIK is the most popular form of laser eye surgery, PRK has its advantages. It is particularly well suited for patients with thin corneas or for those who are more likely to suffer complications from the flap becoming dislodged during the healing process.
