In general, laser eye surgery from eye specialists such as Insight Eye Clinic is used to correct poor vision and eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. In most cases, laser surgery is simple, relatively non-invasive and comes with quite a short recovery time.

In fact, in many cases you will notice an improvement in your vision immediately after the procedure.

However, there are three different types of laser eye surgery, each of which is suited to different people in different situations. You should always speak with your local specialist to determine the best choice for your needs.

But, we’ve outlined them below to give you an idea of what each procedure involves and why it is done.

F-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) is one of the most common types of laser eye surgery in the world. It has been performed for almost 30 years, and is generally used to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism.

In general, LASIK surgery involves using a special laser to create a small flap on the cornea of your eye. This exposes the tissue underneath, which can then be treated with a different type of laser. Basically, the treatment will reshape your cornea, correcting your vision and allowing you to perform simple everyday activities within hours following the procedure.

ASA and PKR Laser Eye Surgery

ASA (advanced surface ablation) surgery, also known as PRK (photo refractive keratectomy), is the oldest type of laser eye surgery. It is used to treat the same things as LASIK (short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism), but has a longer recovery time. It is usually associated with more discomfort during and after the procedure.

Rather than folding the cornea back and replacing it after the procedure, ASA surgery actually involves removing the surface cells altogether. The underlying tissue is then treated with the relevant type of laser, and then the eye is bandaged with a clear contact lense to aid recovery. Complete recovery takes longer than with LASIK surgery, which means that ASA is now generally only used when there are complications which could reduce the effectiveness of LASIK.

SMILE Laser Eye Surgery

The third popular type of laser eye surgery is known as SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction). It’s a very modern, clean procedure which is designed to correct both short-sightedness and astigmatism. Along with this, it generally has a fast recovery period, few side effects, and great long-term outcomes.

Rather than exposing the underlying tissue of your eye, SMILE involves creating a small hole which the surgery is completed through. It’s extremely effective and efficient, and generally has a low risk of ongoing complications compared to other types of laser eye surgery.

Final Word

As you’ve seen, there are three main types of laser eye surgery which are used to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism. They are all quite successful when performed by a skilled eye surgeon, and they generally have few side-effects and fast recovery.

If you’re interested in finding out more about laser eye surgery and whether it’s an option you should be considering, we’d recommend making an appointment with your local eye doctor.