What is LASIK?
LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis) is a flap-based laser vision correction surgery that can correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
Introduced in the early 1990s, this flap-based laser vision correction procedure has become one of the most popular and widely-known procedures for correcting refractive errors. It is so well known that the term “lasik” is used to refer to basically any type of laser vision correction.
Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis
Definition of Keratomileusis –
Surgical reshaping of the cornea to correct vision
Spanish ophthalmologist Dr. Jose Barraquer would experiment by cutting thin flaps in the cornea to see how much cornea had to be left untouched in order to achieve stable long-term vision correction.
Discovered by Russian ophthalmologist Dr. Svyatoslav Fyodorov, R.K. surgery uses a surgical blade to create radial incisions to flatten the cornea so that light rays come into focus directly on the retina, thus allowing for clear vision.
Dr. Fyodorov had to remove glass shards from a patient's eye via linear incisions around the cornea.
The radial incisions had the unintended effect of also improving the patient's vision, due to changes in the corneal shape.
American ophthalmologist Dr. Stephen Trokel performed the first ever laser vision correction procedure - Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK).
American ophthalmologist Dr. Gholam A. Peyman combined the technique of first creating a thin corneal flap using a surgical blade with the subsequent use of an excimer laser as in PRK to reshape the underlying cornea.
Femto LASIK is a bladeless form of the LASIK procedure. The flap is created with a fast and precise femtosecond (ultrashort pulse) laser.
Femto LASIK was discovered after a student accidentally fired a femtosecond laser into his eye.
Fortunately, the laser did not affect the student's vision! And because of the accuracy of the laser, there was no damage to the surrounding tissue.
TransPRK is a minimally invasive procedure which does not require a flap to be cut. Having no corneal flap cut eliminates some of the risks of cut-flap LASIK such as flap complications and dry eyes.
SMILE was created with the aim of bringing over the benefits of LASIK – quick recovery with no discomfort – while being minimally invasive. A micro-incision of 3.5 mm is made, as compared to a 22 mm flap cut in LASIK. This means there is no risk of corneal flap complications and a very low risk of developing dry eyes.
In 2024, SMILE Pro was introduced by ZEISS as an improvement on SMILE, using the upgraded ZEISS VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser. With a pulse frequency of 2000 kHz, the ZEISS VisuMax 800 enables shorter treatment times (lenticule creation in 10 seconds), making procedures easy and comfortable for our patients.
Laser vision correction has been around for decades and has come a long way thanks to advancements in its technologies and techniques. Today, lasik surgery is painless, quick and easy. And with flap-less and blade-less procedures like Safe Sight TransPRK and SMILE, the path to clear vision is safe and comfortable.
The first step towards clear vision is the lasik suitability evaluation! This is where we find out if your eyes are suitable for lasik surgery, and if so, which types of procedures you’ll be eligible for. It is also the best time to ask our optometrists and doctors any questions you might have before you take the next step.
Book Your Eye Evaluation
If you would like to book a suitability evaluation with us to determine if you are eligible for laser vision correction surgery,
📞 Call us at 6733 3316
📱 WhatsApp us at 8383 7989
✉️ Email us at doctor@clearvision.com.sg
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The evaluation costs $55 and will take around 1 – 2 hours.
It will include a series of eye tests as well as a personal consultation with your lasik surgeon.
Suitability Evaluation Guide
Our suitability evaluations typically take place during these times, subject to availability –
| Mondays | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM |
| Tuesdays | 9:00 AM 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM |
| Wednesdays | 9:00 AM |
| Thursdays | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM |
| Fridays | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM |
Just let us know which days and times work for you and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
