Different Types of Laser Eye Surgery

There are many different types of laser eye surgery. I thought I'd post a few definitions (borrowed from Dr. Motwani's website -- the San Diego lasik surgeon who performed my surgery).

LASIK- Laser Assisted In Situ Keratamileusis. This is a procedure where a corneal flap is made consisting of the outer clear skin layer (epithelium) and a small layer of the stroma of the cornea. This allows the stroma to be exposed, and the excimer laser is used to re-shape the cornea. With hyperopia, the laser removes tissue from the outer part of the cornea, with myopia, it is removed in the inner part of the cornea, and with astigmatism tissue is removed preferentially along one axis of the cornea. With Dr. Motwani’s techniques, discomfort and visual rehabilitation take 3-6 hours after surgery.