Our Laser Eye Surgery Options
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is the most popular form of laser eye surgery. It can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. During the surgery, your surgeon will create a small flap in the outer layer of the cornea using a blade. From there, they will use an excimer laser to remove some of the corneal tissue to correct your refractive error.
The flap is then gently folded back into place. Once the surgery is complete, there is some potential for complications, including flap problems, light sensitivity, and dry eye, although most side effects are usually temporary.
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a type of laser surgery where a laser is used to reshape your cornea, similar to LASIK. The main difference between the two surgeries is during PRK no corneal flap is made. Instead, the surgeon will remove the outer layer of your cornea with a special brush, blade, laser, or alcohol solution.
No corneal flaps mean that PRK is sometimes a better option for patients with thin corneas, dry eyes, or people with active lifestyles.
After surgery, you may experience discomfort and blurry vision as the outer layer of your cornea heals and regrows. There is also the potential for scarring as well as cornea cloudiness as side effects of the surgery.