Over the last two decades, eye surgery has improved significantly. There are now numerous techniques, tools, and technologies that can help patients correct their eyesight. Today, vision correction procedures are just as common as an appendectomy. You must be informed about vision correction procedures if you would like to improve your eyesight.

What Is a Vision Correction Procedure?

The vision correction procedure is also known as refractive surgery or laser vision correction. Several vision correction procedures are available today, designed to treat eye conditions such as hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), and astigmatism.

Different Vision Correction Procedures

All refractive surgeries reshape the front part of the eye. In doing so, the light that travels through it will become correctly focused onto the retina. Several procedures perform this, and your doctor will help determine the surgery that suits you best. Some of these procedures are:
 

LASIK

LASIK is short for laser in-situ keratomileusis and is one of today’s most popular vision corrective procedures. This laser surgery corrects vision in people with farsightedness, nearsightedness, and/or astigmatism. During this procedure, the doctor uses a laser to create a flap in the cornea’s outer layer, reshaping the layer beneath. This results in the surgery’s quick healing time and minimal discomfort.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

PRK is also a laser refractive surgery that improves vision just as much as LASIK. Unlike LASIK, though, it doesn’t need to create a corneal flap. The eye surgeon removes the epithelium, the cornea’s upper layer tissue. Also, unlike LASIK, it has a longer recovery time and more discomfort. However, it’s great to have thin corneas or a high prescription.

LASEK and Epi-LASIK

LASEK stands for laser subepithelial keratomileusis. This procedure combines and modifies LASIK and PRK. Like PRK, it uses an alcohol solution but only to loosen the epithelium, not to remove it. In loosening the upper layer of the cornea, LASEK creates a thin flap, the same as LASIK but significantly thinner. In the case of epi-LASIK, the flap is created using a mechanical epithelial separator. It also doesn’t use any alcohol solution.

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE)

SMILE is a laser surgery that’s still relatively new and used to treat myopia. During this surgery, the doctor uses a laser to form a small disc of tissue inside the cornea’s inner layer. After this, your surgeon removes the tissue known as lenticule by creating a small cut on the cornea. Some doctors prefer it over LASIK because it creates a more stable cornea. However, it doesn’t treat farsightedness or astigmatism.

Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI) and Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK)

These vision correction surgeries help treat low-level astigmatism. They involve flattening the tissue on the cornea by making incisions. AK and LRI are typically conducted after a corneal transplant or cataract surgery. Of the two, eye surgeons more commonly perform Limbal Relaxing Incisions because the procedure results in better vision.

Learn more about vision correction procedures by visiting Clarity Vision at our office in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Call (919) 646-2900 to schedule an appointment today.