Know Your Lasik Eye Surgery Techniques

There are many different types of LASIK eye surgery techniques such as corneal incisions, flap procedures and photoablation. These procedures are used to correct astigmatism and nearsightedness. If you are considering LASIK eye surgery, it is good to know the differences between the various types.
Corneal LASIK Eye Surgery Procedures
A corneal incision procedure or keratotomy is used in situations where the cornea is misshapen, which interferes with optical refraction. If you have poor refraction, you will suffer from poor eyesight. LASIK eye surgery reshapes the cornea to improve vision.
There are basically three types of procedures included in the corneal incision family:
If you suffer from astigmatism, a procedure called astigmatic keratotomy (AK) may be used. In this procedure the LASIK Surgeon cuts and then smooths bulges in the cornea in order to allow improved refraction.
If you have a mild case of myopia (nearsightedness), the LASIK eye surgery procedure keratotomy (RK) may be used. In this technique the surgeon surrounds the cornea with an arrangement of outward incisions which will result in the cornea flattening.
Although Hexagonal keratotomy (HA) used to be used to correct farsightedness, unwanted side affected have caused surgeons to nearly eliminate its use entirely.
Flap LASIK Eye Surgery Procedures
The origin of LASIK gets it’s name from a flap procedure called Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, whereby the surgeon cuts a flap in the eye and uses an excimer laser to remove any material that might cause the patient's vision issues.
In Epi-LASIK surgery the surgeon cut does not go deeper than the epithelium. This procedure typically involves a shorter recovery period an can be less painful.
In Lasek surgery, the surgeon cuts a flap in the epithelium and then loosens the flap with alcohol, which can be more painful and cause a longer recovery time.
Keratoplasty is the eye LASIK surgery used for those with myopia or hyperopia, but it isn’t used that much any more.
Photoablation LASIK Eye Surgery Procedures
The most common photoablation LASIK eye surgery procedure is photoreactive keratectomy (PRK). In this procedure, the surgeon uses UV radiation to remove tissue from the eye. The eye is then reshaped using an excimer laser. This procedure is typically used to treat astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness.