Laser and Refractive Eye Surgery Consultations in Guelph

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery. During the operation, an ophthalmologist makes a small incision in the outer layer (epithelium) of the cornea, creating a hinged flap to access the underlying corneal tissue.

Once the ophthalmologist folds back the flap, an excimer laser is used to reshape the corneal tissue, correcting the refractive error. After this, the ophthalmologist puts the flap back in place to heal.

Prior to LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery was the most commonly performed laser vision correction procedure. During the surgery, instead of making a flap, like in LASIK eye surgery, the surgeon removes the epithelium altogether, then reshapes the cornea using an excimer laser. PRK surgery is often performed on patients with thinner corneas or other reasons preventing LASIK eye surgery.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) also called clear lens extraction (CLE) is a vision correction technique for patients with myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. Instead of reshaping the cornea, RLE surgery replaces your eye’s natural lens with an intraocular implant that helps correct your vision.