Laser Eye Surgery 101 👓 FYIdoctors

Laser Eye Surgery 101:

Millions of Canadians who require eyeglasses or contact lenses have now turned to laser eye surgery (also known as refractive surgery) as an alternative.

Laser eye surgery is generally considered a safe and relatively pain-free procedure that uses focused laser beams to reshape the curvature of your cornea and eliminate the need for corrective eyewear.

Laser eye surgery has also been proven effective in treating common vision disorders such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and keratoconus.

Learn more about the differences between LASIK eye surgery, PRK eye surgery, SMILE eye surgery, and ICL eye surgery.

LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK has become one of the most popular forms of laser eye surgery. If you have healthy eyes and suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, you may be a good candidate for LASIK.

The procedure uses an excimer laser to correct and reshape your cornea so that light rays are better able to focus directly onto your retina (the part of your eye that views objects and transmits the visual image to your brain).

LASIK eye surgery is generally quick and painless. It has been used safely for the past 20 years. Ask us if LASIK is right for you.

PRK (or Photorefractive Keratectomy)

PRK is a type of laser eye surgery that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. During this safe and relatively pain-free procedure, your eye care professional uses a laser to remove the surface layer of your cornea.

This technique is usually used for people whose cornea may be too thin to safely allow for LASIK eye surgery. PRK eye surgery may also be a better alternative than LASIK for individuals who are at a much greater risk of suffering an eye injury (such as boxers, martial artists, wrestlers etc). Ask us if PRK is right for you.

SMILE Surgery

SMILE is a new approach to laser corrective surgery that boasts less dryness and incredibly fast healing times. The procedure consists of using a laser to create a “button” of tissue inside the cornea (the front layer of the eye). A small incision is made through which the button is removed.

Since such a small incision is created, the healing time is far quicker than traditional LASIK and PRK surgeries. In addition, less nerves being severed in comparison to the creation of a flap or entire removal of the surface layer means less post-operative dryness. Ask us if SMILE is right for you.

ICL Eye Surgery

In some cases involving severe farsightedness or nearsightedness, LASIK is not an effective option. ICL eye surgery in an alternative.

ICLs (Implantable Contact Lenses) are similar to lenses that are used in cataract surgery in that they're surgically inserted into the eye without removing your natural lens.

Your eyes are first treated with medicated drops and a local anesthetic. The surgeon then creates an incision and places the implantable lens between the clear outer film of the eye and the iris (the coloured portion of your eye). Small, dissolvable sutures then close the incision. The entire procedure lasts around 15 to 30 minutes and usually has a high rate of success.