Refractive Surgery

Тhis is conducted with two lasers, one to make a thin flap in the cornea's surface, and the other to reshape the cornea beneath. The protective flap is smoothed over and is able to remain fixed without the requirement of stitches.

Тhis involves the reshaping of the cornea via a little hole which is self-sealing.

Surface laser treatments – these include procedures such as PRK, LASEK and TransPRK. They involve removing the clear skin which covers the cornea so that the cornea can be reshaped using a laser. The skin can then grow back.

The two main types are phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) surgery and refractive lens exchange (RLE).

PIOL - Phakic intraocular lens implantation (PIOL) involves the placement of PIOL artificial lenses in the eyes, without removing the eye's natural lenses. You can think of these as almost 'built-in' contact lenses. PIOL artificial lenses allow you to take part in activities which you typically wouldn't participate in wearing contact lenses, like water sports or swimming.

The procedure involves a small incision being made in the surface of the eye, allowing the surgeon to slip in the new lens. No stitches are required.

RLE - is very similar to cataract surgery. The eye's natural lens is removed, before being replaced with an artificial lens.

RLE will use one of two artificial lens types: monofocal, which improve distance sight but can still require you to wear glasses for near sight; and multifocal, which provide clear near, middle and distance vision.

Older people who are not suitable for laser eye surgery - for reasons such as having the beginning of cataracts or a high eye prescription - may be suitable for RLE.