Modern Vision Correction Method: Comparative Summary Table
You can find a detailed summary of four modern vision correction procedures below.
Vision Correction Comparison
| TransPRK | LASIK | ReLEx SMILE | Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track Record Since | 1992 Longest track record. | 1994 | 2012 Shortest track record, but rapidly gaining popularity. | 1993 |
| Procedure Time Per Eye (Under experienced eye surgeon.) | 3-5 mins per eye | 10 to 15 min | 5 to 10 min | 15 to 20 min |
| Corneal Thickness Criteria | Central corneal thickness must be at least 475 microns thick. more suitable for thin cornea. | Central corneal thickness must be at least 500 microns thick. | Central corneal thickness must be at least 500 microns thick. | N.A No central corneal thickness requirements (ICL is not a corneal based procedure). |
| Degree Correction Criteria (Based on average central corneal thickness of 550 microns | Myopia: Up to 1,000 deg Hyperopia: Up to 400 deg Astigmatism: Up to 500 deg | Myopia: Up to 800 deg Hyperopia: Up to 400 deg Astigmatism: Up to 500 deg | Myopia: 200 to 700 deg ONLY Hyperopia: N.A. Astigmatism: Up to 500 deg | Myopia: Up to 1,800 deg Hyperopia: N.A. Astigmatism: Up to 600 deg |
| ʻNo Eyeball Touchʼ Surgery? | True “no eyeball touch” surgery. | A suction ring with high pressure is applied. | A suction ring with medium pressure is applied. | A small side incision is made for insertion of the ICL. |
| Invasiveness | Least invasive True no-cut surface-based procedure. | Moderately invasive LASIK takes place beneath a cut corneal flap. | Minimally invasive ReLEx SMILE takes place via a removed lenticule (internal corneal flap). | Most invasive ICL is inserted inside the eye, beyond the cornea and deep behind the pupil. |
| Dry Eyes? | Less likely TransPRK is a surface- based procedure with no nerve endings being cut, greatly reducing the risk of dry eyes. | More likely Thousands of cornea nerve endings are cut when the cornea flap is created, resulting in the risk of permanent LASIK-induced dry eyes. | Less likely There is no big external cut made in the cornea, thus incidence of dry eyes is lower compared to LASIK. | N.A. The ICL procedure is not a corneal based surgery. |
| Ability To Achieve True Wavefront/ Topographical Correction | Can achieve close to true Wavefront?Topographical correction. | The cut corneal flap during Lasik will introduce new Wavefront & Topographical errors. | Current technology does not correct Wavefront/ Topographical errors. | There is no wavefront-enabled ICL. |
| Ability To Do Crosslinking To Prevent Future Corneal Thinning Problem i.e. Keratectasia | Can be incorporated in TransPRK procedure. | Can be incorporated in LASIK procedure. | Not formally recommended by manufacturer. | Cannot be incorporated in ICL procedure. |
| Can Go Back To Work | 4 to 5 days | 2 to 3 days | 2 to 3 days | 2 to 3 days |
| Full Visual Recovery | Slower Generally takes around 1 to 3 months. | Fast Generally take 2 to 3 weeks. | Slower Generally takes about 1 to 3 months. | Fast Generally take 2 to 3 weeks. |
| Resume Light Sports e.g. Jogging, Gym, Cycling | 5 days | 5 days | 5 days | 5 days |
| Can Do More Active Sports e.g. Swimming, Diving, Bungee Jumping, Football | 2 weeks (Important to avoid sun’s uv rays for 6 to 10 weeks) | 1 month | 1 month | 3 month |
| Participate In Rugged And Contact Sports | 2 weeks | It is not advisable to participate in contact sports as the cut corneal flap will never fully heal. | 1 month | It is not advisable to participate in contact sports as the ICL may dislodge or injure internal structures. |
| Average cost of procedure for both eyes (Singapore) | S$3,800 | S$3,000 – S$5,000 | S$5,000 – S$6,000 | S$10,000 – S$15,000 |
| Nutshell Summary | Good for anyone who prefers a safe surface-based procedure. Suitable for active sportsperson, especially those participating in contact sports. Suitable for those who are risk adverse to corneal flap complications, wish to minimise risk of dry eye, have thin cornea and high myopia, and those who are afraid of having their eyes cut. Very important to avoid the sun’s uv rays for two months post-op and to use the recovery eye drops provided for six to ten weeks depending on the eye power corrected. | Good for those who wish to have a fast visual recovery. Not suitable for those who are risk adverse to the cut corneal flap complications. Not suitable for those who wishes to participate in contact sports, or suffer from dry eye, or who have a fear of having their cornea cut. | A procedure that is rapidly gaining popularity because of advantages of a short recovery period (back to work in 2 – 3 days), less worry of dry eye complications and no fear of cornea flap injury from blunt trauma, hard rubbing of the eyes, or contact sports. However, the suitability criteria is more stringent than TransPRK or LASIK. Generally, about one in four patients will not meet the suitability criteria (your eye doctor will advise you on this). It is the most expensive of the laser vision correction procedures. | This is the most invasive procedure as it is an intra-ocular procedure. It increases the risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma. There is a real 1 in 1,000 eyes fear of the eye going fully blind from a bad post-op infection. Hence, in my opinion, it is an option to consider only for those patients who are found to be not suitable for cornea-based laser vision correction procedures. e.g. patients, with very thin cornea, high refractive errors or cornea scarring. |
| Flap-Related Complications? | No 0% Risk of cornea flap or lenticule complications as no cornea flap or lenticule is cut. | Yes 1 – 2% risk of cornea flap complications. This includes: flap dislodgement, flap wrinkles, flap inflammations and flap interface problems. | Yes 1 – 2% risk of lenticule complications. May require conversion to LASIK or TransPRK procedure in the same sitting or at a later date. | N.A. The ICL procedure is not a corneal based surgery. |