The word “laser” brings to mind images of scientists in lab coats conducting experiments in sterile conditions. In reality, Lasik surgery is a relatively new procedure that has become increasingly popular over the years. Lasik surgery works by reshaping the cornea of the eye so that light that would otherwise be reflected back into the eye is instead focused on the retina. This has the effect of improving vision in the treated eye because there is less light reflected back into the eye, meaning that images appear brighter and clearer. There are several different types of Lasik surgery available today and it is important to understand the different types before making a decision on which procedure might work best for you. The type of Lasik surgery you undergo will be determined by the shape of your cornea, as well as other factors such as your prescription. The following are brief descriptions of all the different types of Lasik surgery available today: PRK - PRK stands for Photorefractive keratectomy; in this type of surgery, the epithelium is removed from the cornea and the stroma is reshaped using a laser. PRK is a much older type of Lasik surgery that is less commonly performed today as it has a higher risk of complications and less effectiveness than newer types of treatments. LASIK - LASIK stands for L Corneal Incisional Surgery With Anastigmatic Corneal Reshaping; in this type of surgery, a flap is cut in the cornea, the epithelium is removed, and new corneal tissue is reshaped with a laser. There are two subtypes of LASIK surgery: - Standard LASIK: In standard LASIK, the flap is created with a hinged extension on one side so that it can be lifted up and put back down without removing any additional tissue. - Fractional LASIK: In fractional LASIK, the flap is lifted up and put back down multiple times to make a larger flap that covers a larger area of the cornea. There is less tissue removed in fractional LASIK than in standard LASIK, but it also uses a smaller flap and has slightly less effectiveness than standard LASIK. SMILE - SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction; in this type of surgery, the epithelium is removed from the cornea, a flap is cut in the cornea, the lenticule is removed, and a new flap is cut to cover the cornea. There are two subtypes of SMILE surgery: - Standard SMILE: In standard SMILE, the lenticule is removed through a small incision below the cornea. - Sub-epithelial SMILE: In sub-epithelial SMILE, the lenticule is removed through a small incision between the cornea and the white part of the eye (the sclera).

Fractional Laser Reshaping

Fractional laser reshaping is a treatment that uses a special laser to re-shape the cornea. Fractional laser reshaping is a relatively new type of surgery that has only been available for a few years and is still considered to be less effective than the other types of Lasik surgery. It is often used in combination with another type of Lasik surgery such as LASIK or PRK, or it can be used alone as a stand-alone treatment.The laser used in this type of surgery is designed to cause a very small amount of damage to the cornea to create a small, superficial wound that stimulates the body to produce more collagen. This causes the cornea to reshape, and the treated area usually has a flatter shape than before the treatment. The exact results of the laser reshaping will vary from patient to patient, depending on factors such as age, sex, and other medical conditions. For example, patients who smoke or who have been wearing contact lenses for an extended period of time may not see as much improvement with this type of laser reshaping as patients who do not smoke or who have not worn contact lenses as frequently.The biggest benefit of fractional laser reshaping is that it is less invasive than other types of Lasik surgery. It may be an option for patients who have a higher risk of complications from other types of Lasik surgery, or who have very irregular cornea shapes that cannot be treated effectively with one of the other types of Lasik surgery. However, many people who are considering this type of surgery should be aware that the long-term effectiveness of this type of reshaping is not as high as the other types of Lasik surgery.

Laser Epithelial Reshaping

Laser epithelial reshaping (also known as PRK-like surgery) works by removing the epithelium from the cornea and reshaping the stroma using a laser. This is similar to the way that LASIK surgery works, but this type of surgery is much less common because it is less effective than LASIK and has a higher risk of complications.As with standard LASIK surgery, the epithelium is removed from the cornea in order to reshape the stroma. The main difference is that the epithelial flap is not lifted up and put back down again when reshaping the cornea. Instead, the epithelium is usually removed using a special laser that only affects the epithelium. Then, the stroma is reshaped using a laser and the epithelium is put back onto the treated area. This is done to create a flatter cornea, as the epithelium is slightly thicker than the stroma, and its removal creates a flatter cornea.The main advantage of this type of surgery is that it is less invasive than LASIK surgery. It also has a lower risk of complications, though its effectiveness is lower than LASIK surgery. This type of surgery is often recommended for patients who have a history of dry eyes, or who wear contact lenses that can irritate the epithelium.

Laser Sub-epithelial Reshaping

This type of surgery is used to treat very irregular cornea shapes that cannot be treated effectively with one of the other types of Lasik surgery. It is also used in patients who have very thin corneas. This type of surgery works by creating a flap in the cornea, lifting the flap up and putting it back down again multiple times to make a large flap that covers a large area of the cornea, removing the epithelium from the cornea with a laser, reshaping the stroma with a laser, and then putting the epithelium back onto the treated area.Unlike standard LASIK surgery, this type of surgery does not remove any tissue from the cornea. It is typically used to treat very irregular cornea shapes, or for patients who have a very thin cornea that cannot be reshaped using the other types of Lasik surgery. This type of surgery also has a lower risk of complications than the other types of Lasik surgery. The main benefit of this type of surgery is that it is less invasive than the other types of Lasik surgery. It may be an option for patients who have a high risk of complications from the other types of Lasik surgery, or who have very irregular cornea shapes that cannot be treated effectively with one of the