
PRK
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) was the first refractive surgery to use lasers, and it is still performed today. An ophthalmologist removes (debrides) a few layers of cells off the front of the cornea and then uses a laser to reshape the cornea, correcting the refractive error. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes per eye. Vision clears within approximately one week and stabilises within one to two months.
Although healing after PRK takes longer than LASIK due to the regrowth of the front tissue layer, one major advantage to PRK is the ability to treat patients with thinner corneas.
LASIK
LASIK is the most commonly performed laser refractive surgery. An ophthalmologist creates a thin flap in the outer layers of the cornea, folding it back to reveal the middle layers. The middle layers of the cornea are reshaped with a laser and the flap is then placed back into its original position. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes per eye. Vision clears within 48 hours and stabilises within two weeks.
RLE & PRELEX
RLE (Reflective Lens Exchange)
Older adults, especially those who have never worn glasses, may think LASIK is their only solution as they begin to age and need reading glasses. However, due to the number of disqualifying factors, many people 40 and older may not be good candidates for LASIK.
Refractive lens exchange (RLE) replaces your eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). This procedure is typically reserved for patients who experience a change in their vision do to the natural aging of the eye.
Lens replacement surgery is identical to cataract surgery; the difference is that RLE replaces a clear lens rather than a lens that has become cloudy due to a cataract. As in cataract surgery, the types of artificial lenses available with lens replacement surgery are the same and depend on the health of your eyes.
PRLEX
PRELEX is a surgical procedure that uses the same successful techniques of modern cataract surgery. These surgical techniques have evolved and improved dramatically over the last 20 years. Cataract surgery is now the most common surgical procedure performed in medicine today.
The main difference between standard cataract surgery and PRELEX is that cataract surgery is primarily performed to remove a patient’s cataract that is obstructing and clouding their vision, while PRELEX is performed to minimize a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
PRELEX Is For Those Who:
- want to be less dependent on glasses or contacts for far and near vision.
- are outside the corrective range of LASIK and other refractive procedures.
- may be showing signs of clouding in their natural lens even though this clouding is not yet interfering with vision.
- have no health issues affecting their eyes.