What Is Laser Eye Surgery and How Does It Work?

Many of our patients ask the question, “how does laser eye surgery work?”. The process is a simple one, but also highly effective.

It’s a highly precise medical procedure that is used to correct common vision problems and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses.

What is Laser Eye Surgery?

During the treatment, the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) is reshaped so that light entering the eye is properly focused onto the retina at the back of the eye.

Through this correction, patients enjoy clearer, sharper vision without having to rely on external lenses. Glasses and contact lenses are more impractical.

Laser eye surgery is a convenient, long-term solution. Patients experience decades of improved vision. With modern technology and a strong track record of safety, laser eye surgery has become one of the most reliable procedures for vision correction across the world.

What Conditions Are Treated With Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery can treat many different eye conditions. The most common include:

• Short-sightedness (myopia), where close objects are seen clearly but distant ones appear blurry.

• Long-sightedness (hyperopia), which makes nearby objects harder to see.

• Astigmatism, a condition where the cornea is irregularly shaped, causing distorted or blurred vision.

What Are the Types of Laser Eye Surgery?

While all forms of laser eye surgery reshape the cornea, the techniques change slightly depending on the patient’s needs. If you’ve ever wondered how laser eye surgery works in different procedures, the answer depends on whether LASIK, PRK or SILK is used.

LASIK

LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most common procedure. A very thin corneal flap is created using a femtosecond laser. The surgeon then reshapes the tissue beneath the flap with an excimer laser before repositioning the flap.

Because the deeper corneal layers are treated, LASIK patients often experience a fast recovery. Many return to normal activities within a day or two with minimal discomfort. LASIK is particularly well-suited to those with thicker corneas.

PRK

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) does not involve creating a flap. Instead, the surface epithelial cells of the cornea are removed before the excimer laser reshapes the tissue. A protective contact lens is placed over the eye while the surface regenerates.

PRK requires a slightly longer healing period, but it avoids flap-related complications and is often recommended for people with thinner corneas or specific eye shapes.

Both LASIK and PRK are safe and effective treatments to improve eyesight. The right choice depends on individual eye characteristics, which are always carefully evaluated during consultation.

SILK

SILK (Smooth Incision Lenticular Keratomileusis) presents the latest in keyhole surgery. The laser corrects for myopia and astigmatism by removing a very thin piece of corneal tissue from a 3mm incision. No shields or contact lenses are required postop.