Picture This: Waking up every day with perfect vision, never having to wear glasses or corrective contact lenses again. I know what you’re thinking, that sounds like a dream come true!
Well, today is your lucky day! Thanks to advances in modern technology, it is now possible to have vision correction surgery. While this may be a dream come true for many, there are still precautions to take, as well as side effects to consider.
That said, we have made things a bit easier for you. Below, you will find definitions for LASIK, Wavelight LASIK, INTRALASE LASIK, Excimer laser, refractive surgery, and more.
What is Wavelight LASIK surgery?
Firstly, let’s define LASIK and some other key terms to know when discussing laser eye surgery:
LASIK
LASIK is an abbreviation for the medical term laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. LASIK is a form of corrective laser eye surgery designed to change the shape of the cornea. This procedure is used on patients who wish to eliminate or reduce the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
Excimer Laser
Excimer lasers have the ability to remove tiny amounts of tissue from the cornea at an incredibly accurate rate, all without causing damage to the surrounding corneal tissue. There are numerous types of excimer lasers approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for use in vision correction surgery.
Including, but not limited to:
-
- MEDITEC MEL 80 Excimer Laser System (Zeiss)
- TECHNOLAS 217Z Zyoptix System for Personalized Vision Correction (Bausch + Lomb)
- Allegretto WAVE Eye-Q Excimer Laser System (Alcon)
- STAR S4 IR Excimer Laser System and iDesign Advanced WaveScan Studio System (Abbott Medical Optics)
- Nidek EC-5000 Excimer Laser System (Nidek)
Although all of these laser treatments include their own individual set of features, research has shown that all excimer lasers approved by the FDA produce comparable results to LASIK surgery.
Refractive Surgery
Refractive surgery is eye surgery that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. All for the purpose of eliminating the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. Refractive surgery types include PRK, Corneal Implants / Corneal Transplants, and LASIK.
PRK
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is classified as a type of refractive surgery used to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. PRK was the first kind of laser eye surgery for vision correction. Although this method requires a bit of a longer recovery time, PRK is still performed often and may be a better option when compared to LASIK.
Corneal Implants / Transplants
Corneal transplants (keratoplasty) is a surgical procedure performed by licensed doctors. This procedure works by replacing a part of your cornea with donated corneal tissue.
LASIK
See above definition of LASIK.
Wavelight LASIK
Wavelight is the latest and greatest technology in laser vision correction surgeries such as PRK and LASIK. This new laser provides the fastest recovery time with little procedure discomfort. Wavelight also delivers patients the most accurate results.
INTRALASE LASIK
Intralase LASIK is a term which refers to a modern form of LASIK surgery. This operation is performed using an INTRALASE femtosecond laser to cut the flap of the eye, compared to using a blade as with LASIK. The technology used with INTRALASE LASIK surgery reduces the possibility of complications. Due to increased precision, this type of corrective eye surgery is now opening the door to those who were onced deemed to be poor candidates.
The length of each treatment differs, depending on the type of laser you and your surgeon determine would be best for you. However, the average laser eye corrective surgery ranges from about 20 to 60 seconds long. Another thing to consider is whether you are a better fit for blade, or blade-free surgery. A licenced surgeon can help you decide which option would benefit you best specifically, in terms of comfort and desired results.