Types of Laser Eye Surgery in the UK


Laser Eye Surgery in the UK

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LASIK | LASEK | PRK | IntraLase | Epi-LASIK | H-PRK & H-LASIK | PARK

Post Operative Discomfort

Patients undergoing LASIK surgery experience little discomfort compared to those undergoing PRK laser eye surgery.  This is because the cornea is not disturbed to the same extent.  Obviously some irritation is initially experienced.  Patients undergoing LASEK surgery should feel less pain immediately following the surgery compared with PRK surgery.  This is because LASEK surgery involves peeling back of the epithelium instead of its complete removal, as with PRK.  The epithelium takes up to 72 hours to re-grow within which time patients report mild to severe discomfort.  LASIK is believed to be more comfortable than LASEK surgery over the first few days following surgery.  The recovery period for LASIK surgery is faster than LASEK surgery.  Thus overall, LASIK surgery involves the least pain.

Corneal Haze & Scarring

LASIK patients are likely to gain better refractive results because haze and scarring are far less severe compared to PRK surgery.  In PRK, glare and haloes can increase due to haze and myopic regression may be exacerbated.

Visual Recovery

LASIK patients have more rapid unaided vision compared with PRK.  This is because the procedure is less invasive.  PRK surgery requires the epithelium to re-grow and this can take up to 72 hours.  Full results are achieved faster and are more stable with LASIK surgery because there is less fluctuation through the healing process and less haze and scarring.  LASEK shows fast recovery compared to PRK because the LASEK technique preserves most of the epithelium.  Visual recovery is typically fastest with LASIK surgery followed by LASEK.

Improved Vision

Mild to moderate degrees of myopia generally show similar results for LASIK and PRK though visual rehabilitation in LASIK is improved.  LASIK may be the preferred surgery when myopia is severe as results are generally clinically better with fewer complications.  With LASIK there is less corneal scarring in the long term, less change due to healing (regression) and thus greater stability of the correction.  LASEK surgery however, is the preferred procedure when the cornea is very thin or steep.

IntraLase

One of the most recent technological breakthroughs in LASIK eye surgery comes with the all laser procedure, IntraLase.  IntraLase provides a less invasive, computer-controlled approach to the important first step of the LASIK eye surgery, the removal of the corneal flap.  Traditionally the flap is cut with a blade, but using UltraLase it is cut with a laser.  This leads to the following advantages:

  • Predictability - Flaps cut by a laser can be customised and meet the patient’s visual parameters and therefore predictability is improved.
  • Visual Recovery - The integrity of the corneal biomechanics is a critical parameter in the success of a refractive procedure and IntraLase can produce minimal disruption of corneal biomechanical architecture and as a result, very rapid visual recovery.
  • Safety - IntraLase may be a safer procedure because there is no need to abandon surgery because of inadequate flap dimensions.
  • Precision - IntraLase enables more precision in flap creation using extremely accurate flap dimensions.                                                                                                   

Wavefront Technology

Advanced wavefront technology can be incorporated within laser eye surgery procedures to improve the results.  Wavefront allows more control over the laser and this can lead to the following advantages:                  

  • Greater chance of achieving 20/20 vision
  • Greater chance of achieving better than 20/20 vision
  • Reduced chance of losing best-corrected vision
  • Reduced chance of losing visual quality or contrast sensitivity
  • Reduced chance of night-vision disturbances and glare

Although it is true that certain patients may be better off with one type of laser surgery over another, the effectiveness of laser eye surgery can also be significantly influenced by the skill and experience of the eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) and the quality of care received, both before and after the surgery. Visit Choosing a Clinic, for advice on where you should have laser eye surgery.

For a quick comparison of the main laser eye surgery procedures, visit the Summary of LASIK, PRK & LASEK page.

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