Laser Eye Surgery: Choices, Choices, Choices

Marketing of laser eye surgery can be confusing and daunting. The aim of any treatment is to reshape the cornea in order to improve vision without glasses or contact lenses. The difference is which part of the cornea is reshaped and via what means. The two main players are LASIK and PRK – within these two, fall a myriad of marketing names. LASIK can be marketed as blade less or blade free (if a microkeratome blade is still used this usually isn’t advertised) and iLASIK. PRK and variants can also be marketed as blade less or blade free Laser but also as Lasek, Epilasik, Nu-Lase or Nu-Lasik and ASLA. Now SMILE has been thrown in the mix – Small Incision Lenticular Extraction. Choice is important but can cause confusion. Assessing suitability and eye health should always come first and with any procedure the best results can be enhanced by choosing an experienced surgeon.