The Advancements in Laser Eye Surgery Technology

Understanding Laser Eye Surgery Technology

The concept of correcting refractive errors by reshaping the cornea was the original idea of José Barraquer Moner, who developed a procedure named ‘keratomileusis’ in 1948. This procedure involved manually resecting the anterior corneal tissue and flattening the curve of the cornea, reducing the eye's refractive power (the ability of the lens to focus light). No laser was used but rather a blade-like instrument known as a microkeratome.

Moner wasn’t the only person experimenting with such techniques, but the use of a laser was only adopted in the 1970s.

Nikolay Basov built and coined the ‘excimer laser’, which was a laser made from xenon dimer gas. This laser was later used to perform the first corrective laser eye surgery, in which the entire epithelial (outer) layer of the cornea is removed, and the cornea is lasered to correct the refractive error.

The first excimer laser prototype was officially developed in 1985 and used for corrective surgery by Dr. Stephen Trokel, whose team had found that laser surgery could be used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

It was after this success that more advanced LASIK techniques were developed and approved as a safe, pain-free way of correcting vision.

Types of Laser Eye Surgery

There are three main types of laser eye surgery: Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), Photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK), and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

There are some other types of procedures, but the differences are often quite small.

• LASIK - This is the most common type of laser surgery and involves creating a flap on the surface of the cornea (epithelium) in order to reshape it. The flap is then placed back into position and heals naturally.
• Trans-PRK - Instead of forming a flap, the epithelium is removed entirely, and the cornea is reshaped. The epithelium then grows back naturally, resulting in a longer recovery time compared to LASIK.
• SMILE - This is a relatively new laser eye surgery technology on the market. A laser creates a lens-shaped bit of tissue (known as a lenticule) below the surface of the cornea, which is then removed through a small incision, reshaping the cornea.

What Are The Latest Laser Eye Surgery Technology Advancements?

When it comes to laser eye surgery, new technology is continuously being developed to keep industry standards high and participants happy. Take a look at some of the latest developments in laser eye surgery technology below.

Wavefront-Guided LASIK

One of the most recent developments in laser eye surgery is wavefront technology. This treatment method, sometimes known as wavefront-guided LASIK or custom LASIK, can be personalised to each individual based on the unique visual characteristics of the eye.

Wavefront-guided LASIK involves measuring the eye from back to front with a special laser using ‘wavefront’ technology, creating a 3D image of the eye. A wavefront map is created, guiding the laser to perform a customised treatment of the eye.

Femtosecond Laser Technology

The first femtosecond laser prototype was developed in the 1990s and is widely used in LASIK procedures. Today, it’s commonly used in SMILE laser procedures due to its safe, quick and effective technology.

A femtosecond laser creates intense ultrashort and ultrafast pulses that can focus on a small space and volume, making precise incisions in the eye tissue. This makes it perfect for SMILE laser surgery where a small-incision lenticule extraction is required, as well as the creation of a small flap. It’s also used in corneal transplant surgeries.

Topography-Guided Laser Treatments

Topography-guided laser is a procedure that customises the treatment to the unique surface shape of the eye. This laser eye surgery technology includes wavefront optimisation designed to improve the final cornea shape. Topography-guided laser is also used to treat eyes with abnormal cornea surfaces in patients who don’t qualify for LASIK.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) Technology

As one of the latest laser eye surgery techniques, SMILE can treat various vision problems including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia and astigmatism.

The SMILE procedure uses a femtosecond laser to create a corneal lenticule which is then extracted through a small incision without the use of an excimer laser.

Choosing the Best Laser Eye Surgery Technology for Your Needs

So, what is the best laser eye surgery? Well, there’s no simple answer because your ophthalmologist will determine which treatment method is the safest option for you. They will take certain factors into consideration though, such as:

• Age
• Specific vision problems
• Health
• Lifestyle factors

LASIK, Trans-PRK and SMILE are all clinically proven, safe, and effective laser eye surgery methods but they do have varying uses, recovery times, and treatment costs, which could limit their suitability across participants.

Why Choose betterview for Advanced Laser Eye Surgery?

We currently offer two types of laser eye surgery: Femto-LASIK and Trans-PRK. All our treatments are performed with state-of-the-art lasers by Zeiss, one of the world’s market leaders.

Our experienced medical team will examine your vision and determine which laser eye surgery treatment is best suited to your needs. Your vision is our priority - we only offer Swiss quality and precision at the best price.

There are so many other benefits to choosing us:

• Our team of certified laser eye surgery specialists has over 20 years of experience.
• We offer personalised treatments to suit all types of visual needs.
• There are no hidden fees, and you can pay for the surgery in instalments.
• We can arrange a door-to-door taxi service so you can fully recover with peace of mind.

Schedule a free, 30-minute consultation to kickstart your journey to 20/20 vision. Our shop is located in Westfield London White City (Shepherd’s Bush) so you can also just walk in and get the process started. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to chat with our team.