Lions Eye Institute - Laser Vision Center

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Other types of refractive surgery.

LASIK is the most common form of refractive surgery - that is surgery performed to correct refractive errors to reduce dependancy on glasses and contact lenses. LASIK stands for LASER-IN-SITU KERATOMILEUSIS and is a technique of laser refractive surgery that uses a special instrument called a Microkeratome to cut a partialo-thickness flap in the cornea an dthen an ezximer laser to reshape the surface beneath the flap. LASIK can be uysed to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. What options are available if you are not suitable for LASIK surgery?

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

PRK is a procedure to reshape the cornea using the same excimer laser as used in LASIK. In this procedure the corneal surface is simply scraped rather than cutting a flap. The laser is then applied to reshape the cornea and the surface heals back over several days. This is a simpler procedure than LASIK and is safe and effective for low degrees of myopia. There is, however, greater post-operative discomfort and it takes longer to achieve good vision than with LASIK.

An extra artificial lens (IOL) can be inserted into the eye to correct myopia or hyperopia. Various lenses have been developed to do this. They are usually reserved for correcting very high degrees of refractive error because of the greater risk of potential complications.

The natural lens inside the eye can be surgically removed and then replaced with an artificial lens (IOL). This is usually only considered for very high degrees of refractive error and when presbyopia has already developed.

Astigmatism may sometimes be treated by making surgical incisions in the cornea in order to change its shape and make it more evenly rounded.

When the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy or opaque vision deteriorates. This is called a cataract. If any cataract is present then it may be better to remove the cataract and replace it with a clear artificial lens (IOL) to correct the refractive error rather than performing LASIK.