Types of LASIK Surgery

PRK ( Traditional / Original LASIK Surgery )

PRK is performed with the use of an excimer laser.  This laser uses ultraviolet light to precisely remove tissue from the surface of the cornea.  This removal reshapes the cornea to better focus light into the eye thus improving vision.  PRK is used for both nearsighted and farsighted patients. 

Custom LASIK or Wavefront LASIK

Wavefront LASIK is commonly referred to as Custom LASIK.  It uses a 3D “map” of your eye to guide the LASIK surgeon as they reshape the cornea.  This 3D map give the surgeon a precise or custom view of the patients procedure. This provides benefits to the LASIK patient during both the evaluation and treatment process.
Wavefront LASIK provides the surgeon with comprehensive and custom diagnostic information, not available using earlier LASIK technologies. Before the LASIK surgery even begins, the surgeon is better able to determine the appropriate course of vision correction.

During the LASIK treatment, wavefront allows the LASIK surgeon to customize the LASIK settings to make the procedure more precise. In this way, wavefront technology offers the patients a more sharp, crisp and better quality vision experience.  It is also widely regarded for its reduction in nighttime vision difficulties like halos and glare.

Epi-LASIK ( Epithelial Laser )

Epi-LASIK is often regarded as a cross between LASEK and LASIK.  It is a procedure used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.  Epi-LASIK uses a specially designed microkeratome instrument to create a thin flap of the corneal epithelium gently separating the epithelium from the corneal layer.  With Epi-LASIK no alcohol solution is applied to loosen and remove the surface of the epithelium as in LASEK.  It is commonly used for patients with thin corneas who might not be a good candidate for ordinary LASIK surgery.  With the epithelial layer removed, the excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea.  Then the epithelial flap is returned to its original location.

LASEK

LASEK is a variation of PRK and is used for patients with thin or flat corneas.  During a LASEK procedure, the outer layer of the cornea is cut with a trephine.  An alcohol solution is used to loosen the epithelium layer.  The epithelial flap is then folded back so the LASIK surgeon can use the excimer laser to reshape the cornea.  The epithelial flap is then replaced.  Many LASIK surgeons consider LASEK a better option for patients who would not be considered good candidates for LASIK.

IntraLase LASIK or Bladefree LASIK

IntraLase LASIK or Bladefree LASIK uses a laser rather than a microkeratome to perform the procedure.  The IntraLase laser is used to instead of the microkeratome to create the “flap” for the excimer laser to reshape the cornea.  Two lasers are used with IntraLase LASIK which is why LASIK surgeons have coined it “Bladefree” LASIK.

Presby LASIK

Presby LASIK is a type of laser eye vision correction surgery designed to give the eye different areas for seeing near and far.  This surgery is used to correct presbyopia which is a condition that causes blurred vision in older people’s near vision.