There number of types of laser corrective eye surgery and the two forms of corrective eye surgery in the United States and Canada is PRK and LASIK, and there also are LASEK and AK, as well as many other forms. PRK was invented in the late 80's while LASIK came to us in the mid to late nineties and has become the type of laser corrective eye surgery that is most common in the last few years.

LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis)

Similar to LASIK except the surgeon makes the flap cut in the epithelium instead of the epithelium and the stroma. This surgery is mainly used for people with thin or flat corneas. They are normally not good candidates for the LASIK surgery because of the condition of their corneas. There are drawbacks to this surgery, a longer healing time, and slightly more discomfort than LASIK surgery.

AK (Astigmatic Keratotomy)

Corrects a mild astigmatism. The cornea reshapes and takes the bulges out of the cornea for them to have a normal curve. Astigmatism of the cornea happens when the cornea is shaped like a football instead of a natural curve.

PRK (Photo-Refractive Keratectomy)

A laser beam is used to dissolve or vaporize imperfections found on the cornea’s surface. This medical procedure seeks to remove a precise amount of tissue to order to alter the shape of the cornea to improve vision. After the PRK surgery, the eye begins to heal in a week’s time, and sometimes less and vision improvement is gradual and over a few days or even months.

With PRK some patients experience hazy or blurred vision as their eyes begin to heal but this generally does not last for very long. Mild discomfort or pain is sometimes experienced after PRK.

There are also patients who suffer from "regression", where the eye goes back to the state it was in before the surgery took place. If "regression" does occur it usually does so before six months after the surgery. Regression can be treated by having the PRK surgery a second time or by returning to wearing glasses or contact lenses on again. This is a decision that is made on a case-by-case basis by the doctor and patient.

LASIK (Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis)

More involved than is PRK, however the healing and vision improvement is much quicker. Vision improvement almost immediately, when you wake up the next day you can go about your normal daily activities.

The doctor first cuts a flap of skin in the cornea of the eye. The doctor then lifts the flap up and with a laser guided by a computer (as with PRK), specific quantities of eye tissue that are to be found on the inside areas of the cornea are taken away. Once this is done, the flap of skin is closed up and the eye begins to heal.

LASIK surgery is riskier as it the cutting of corneal tissue which can mean there is a much higher risk that serious problems.

More recently developed is All-Laser LASIK surgery, which uses an extra laser beam instead of a blade in creating the flap in the front of the eye to correct the problem. After the flap is lifted, then the second laser beam corrects and reshapes the eye.

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