Procedures · 01 of 04
LASIK
Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. A femtosecond laser makes a thin corneal flap, an excimer laser reshapes the tissue beneath it, and the flap is laid back in place.
Cross-section, not to scale
- Approach
- Bladeless flap, then excimer reshaping
- Laser platform
- Femtosecond + excimer; topography-guided (Contoura) and wavefront-guided options
- Laser time
- Under a minute per eye; about 15 minutes in the suite
- Sees clearly by
- The next morning, for most
- Back to work
- 1 to 2 days
- Suited to
- Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism with adequate corneal thickness
Who it suits
- Powers across a wide range, including astigmatism and hyperopia
- Corneas with comfortable thickness on the scan
- People who want the fastest visual recovery
What to know
- The flap means no eye rubbing or contact sports for a few weeks
- Not for thin or irregular corneas; the scan will show us
- Dry-eye symptoms are common for a few weeks and settle with drops
Recovery
What the first month looks like.
- Day 0
About 15 minutes in the laser suite. Home within the hour with drops and shields. Rest with eyes closed for a few hours.
- Day 1
First review. Most patients read the 6/6 line or close to it.
- Week 1
Drops on schedule. No swimming, eye make-up or rubbing. Screens and office are fine.
- Month 1
Vision stable. Final review, and the drops taper off.
LASIK questions
Straight answers.
The general questions, on cost, safety and age, are answered on the main FAQ.
Is bladeless LASIK different from ordinary LASIK?
Yes. In bladeless LASIK the flap is made by a femtosecond laser rather than a mechanical blade, which gives a more even flap of a planned thickness. All LASIK at UnSpecX is bladeless.
What is Contoura Vision?
Topography-guided LASIK. The excimer laser follows a detailed map of your cornea's shape rather than only your glasses power, which helps with irregular surfaces and night-time quality of vision.
Will I need glasses again?
Your current power is corrected permanently. Like everyone, you may need reading glasses in your mid-forties, which is a natural change of the lens inside the eye, not a return of the old power.
The other three
- 02PRKThe surface procedure. No flap at all, which makes it the safe choice for thin corneas and contact-sport lives.Read
- 03SMILE ProKeyhole surgery through a 2 mm opening on the ZEISS VisuMax 800. Laser time under ten seconds per eye, gentle on dry eyes.Read
- 04SILKThe newest lenticule procedure. Flapless, gentle correction designed for crisp day and night vision.Read