Refractive surgery is a medical procedure used to correct common vision problems like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. The surgery reshapes the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, to allow light to be properly focused onto the retina, resulting in clearer vision.
LASIK is one of the most popular refractive surgeries. A surgeon uses a laser to create a thin flap in the cornea, then reshapes the underlying tissue to improve how the eye focuses light. The flap is then repositioned.
In PRK, the surgeon removes the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) and uses a laser to reshape the cornea. Over time, the epithelium grows back, and vision improves.
SMILE is a minimally invasive procedure where a small incision is made in the cornea, and a lenticule (a small disc-shaped piece of tissue) is removed to change the corneal shape.
LASEK is similar to PRK but instead of removing the epithelium completely, it is loosened with alcohol, pushed aside, and then replaced after the cornea is reshaped.
These are artificial lenses implanted in the eye without removing the natural lens. This method is typically used for people with very high prescriptions or thin corneas, where LASIK or PRK might not be suitable.
This is similar to cataract surgery, where the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens to correct refractive errors.
Most patients experience significantly better vision without glasses or contacts.
Procedures like LASIK often have quick recovery times, with patients returning to normal activities within a day or two.
The results of refractive surgery are typically permanent, though some people may still need reading glasses as they age.
