There are several types of cornea refractive surgery, including:
- LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis): This is the most common type of refractive surgery and involves creating a flap in the cornea and reshaping the underlying tissue with a laser.
- PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): This procedure involves removing the surface layer of the cornea and using a laser to reshape the underlying tissue. Unlike LASIK, there is no flap created in PRK.
- LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis): This procedure is similar to PRK, but the surface layer of the cornea is only partially removed and a alcohol solution is used to loosen it before it is replaced after the reshaping of the cornea.
- Epi-LASIK: This is a variation of LASIK that combines features of both LASIK and PRK. It involves separating the epithelium from the underlying corneal tissue with a special blade and then reshaping the cornea with a laser.
- SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): This is a newer type of refractive surgery that involves creating a small incision in the cornea to remove a lenticule of tissue, rather than reshaping the cornea with a laser.
It’s important to note that not all patients are candidates for each type of surgery, and the best choice of procedure depends on the individual’s specific needs and corneal anatomy.