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Laser Eye Surgery Options
by Isobel Washington
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Overview
Advances in laser technology have had a tremendous impact on vision correction. Laser eye surgery is a safe and effective treatment method for patients suffering from vision problems.
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Treatable Conditions
Laser eye surgery is used to improve vision for patients who are nearsighted, farsighted, and have astigmatism. In these conditions, light does not focus properly on the retina, the back of the eye responsible for sending visual images to the brain.
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Functions and How It Works
Laser eye surgery aims to adjust the eye tissue so that light better focuses on the retina. This is achieved by reshaping the cornea (the clear front window of the eye), and removing cornea tissue.
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LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis)
LASIK is the most popular and widely chosen laser eye surgery for vision correction, according to AllAboutVision.com. Side effects, complications, and downtime are minimal, and the success rate is over 90 percent, according to DocShop.com and AllAboutVision.com.
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PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
PRK laser eye surgery has a longer history than LASIK surgery. It now serves as the alternative for patients who aren't good candidates for LASIK laser surgery, such as those with large pupils or thin corneas. (LASIK involves cutting a flap on the cornea, so patients with very thin corneas are recommended to choose another type of laser eye surgery.)
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LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis)
LASEK is a type of PRK laser eye surgery, and another option for patients unsuitable for LASIK eye surgery. LASEK surgery is just as effective as PRK and LASIK, but it does not affect the outer layer of the eye's cornea. It is meant for people with dramatically thin or steep cornea tissue.
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The Main Difference
The primary difference between these main types of laser eye surgery is how the procedure addresses the cornea tissue. LASIK eye procedures cut a flap in the front part of the cornea, beneath which the tissue is adjusted. PRK doesn't cut a flap, working instead directly with the tissue. And LASEK does not affect the outer corneal tissue at all.
