There are several surgical options available when considering refractive eye surgery to reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses. 

Talk to your doctor of optometry to see if any of the refractive surgery options available are right for you. 

After surgery, your doctor of optometry can help manage the use of the antibiotic, steroid and artificial teardrops required to aid the healing process.

Types of Refractive Surgery

Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK)

With Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK), the outer layer of the cornea, the clear covering of the eye, is gently removed. A laser is used to reshape the cornea. The outer layer grows back over the treated area within about 3-5 days. 

Pros

• PRK achieves excellent results, especially for patients who may have a thinner than average cornea.
• After healing, the cornea stays strong and eye sight is usually very good.

Cons

• There is some eye pain or irritation for the first few days after surgery while the outer layer heals.
• The prescription may take up to three months to stabilize.

Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a common type of refractive eye surgery. A tiny oscillating blade is used to create a thin flap of the cornea. The flap is folded back and the laser is applied to the exposed inner corneal tissue. The flap is then put back in place, where it bonds tightly without the need for stitches. 

Pros

• Patients experience faster vision recovery.
• Patients experience minimal eye discomfort from the procedure.

Cons

• Rarely, there have been instances where the flap has come dislodged, such as while playing sports.

Intralase SBK

Instead of using a blade to create the flap, a laser can be used to make a uniform thickness slice instead.  The laser is then applied to the exposed inner corneal tissue. The flap is then repositioned, where it bonds tightly without the need for stitches.

Pros

• This procedure can create a thinner, more uniform flap with potentially fewer complications than LASIK.
• This type of flap can lead to better visual recovery and is more stable.

So which is better?

PRK, LASIK and SBK are very quick and accurate surgeries. However, they may, in limited instances, produce visual issues such as glare or halos under low lighting conditions, and dry eye syndrome.

Laser technology is advancing and these days more personalized treatment that is unique to each patient is widely available.

Other Surgical Options

Clear Lens Extraction (CLE)

Clear lens extraction (CLE) does not involve a laser and is actually the same procedure as cataract surgery. With CLE, instead of waiting for a cataract to form, the normally clear lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. The artificial lens provides proper focusing power to improve distance vision.

CLE is more invasive than the above surgeries and is generally reserved for patients with extremely high prescriptions. Afterwards, reading glasses may be required to see up close.

Implantable Contact Lens Surgery (ICL)

In implantable contact lens (ICL) surgery, a small contact lens is gently positioned inside the eye. This surgery is mostly done on patients with high prescriptions. Since there is the risk of developing post-operative glaucoma or cataracts, proper screening must be done prior to surgery.