Your vision is essential to your overall wellbeing. When considering eye vision surgery, it’s essential to examine the benefits of each method. There are many vision correction procedures in use, including LASEK, Epi-LASIK, bladeless LASIK, and PRK. Each process differs by technique, equipment, and eligibility requirements.
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
PRK is a refractive surgery used to correct common vision issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It was the very first kind of laser vision correction surgery approved for use on real-life patients. PRK works by reshaping the cornea to adjust the direction of light entering the eye, improving the vision.
This method takes longer to recover from than LASIK surgery, but it can be an excellent option for patients who are not eligible for LASIK.
Epi-LASIK
Like PRK, Epi-LASIK does not involve cutting into the cornea. Epi-LASIK is a surface procedure and poses fewer risks than traditional LASIK surgeries. This procedure can help improve the same vision problems as PRK.
Epi-LASIK is currently the safest vision correction procedure available and only takes a few minutes to perform. Recovery times may vary, but most patients begin to see their vision improve significantly within a week.
Bladeless LASIK vision correction
LASIK surgery uses a blade to cut a flap in the cornea — the transparent front surface of the eye — allowing the surgeon to access and reshape the tissue underneath. However, bladeless LASIK procedures make use of lasers to perform this part of the surgery.
Bladeless LASIK poses fewer risks than the traditional method and may be an option for patients with thin corneas. As the use of a laser provides a more accurate, even cut, the resulting flap typically heals much quicker than one cut with a manual blade.
LASEK vision correction
While many people have heard of LASIK surgery, they may not know about LASEK. This procedure is essentially a combination of PRK and LASIK. LASEK is better suited for those with thinner or flatter corneas. Recovery time is slightly longer, but patients have reported significantly improved vision within six to eight weeks.
Which procedure is right for you?
With so many laser eye surgery procedures available, the question of which one is right for you depends on several variable factors. Sometimes, it comes down to personal preference — avoiding the use of a blade, for instance — but more often, it’s a question of which method suits each specific case and the patient’s eligibility.
If you are interested in eye vision surgery and would like more information, book a consultation with a reputable laser eye surgeon.