Basically there are three eye surgery methods. All of them are called almost the same: LASIK, LASEK and LASAK. Those methods can be combined with two other treatments to give a better result. Those two methods are: Wavefront treatment and Aspheric treatment.
Because it is fast, gentle and effective, LASIK is the most popular method. There are very few complications, so it will be a good eye surgery method for most people.
LASIK surgery is almost painless, and the sight has improved only a few hours after the operation. The side effects are few; dry is the most common. LASIK can help most people; long-sightedness until +3 and near-sightedness until -12.
For people who are only a little long-sightedness or near-sightedness (from -2 to +2), the LASEK surgery is a great method.
Because the operation is made on the surface of the corneas, the LASEK surgery is especially good, if you have thin corneas. It is also better, if you suffer of dry eyes.
LASAK is the most modern method of eye surgery. The flap, which is cut off, is thinner than when using the LASIK method. Because of the saved corneal tissue, it is a great method if you have thin corneas.
LASAK do also have a shorter healing time than the other operations. There is no pain after the surgery and the risk of complications is very low. The eyes will not be as dry as with the other operations, and the sight will be steadier.
To improve the result even further, the Wavefront treatment can be used in combination with all of the three laser surgery methods. A special instrument is used to measure the irregularities on the corneal, and a kind of topographic map is created. A computer makes a range of calculations, so the laser surgery is carried out for the specific eye.
With Wavefront the treatment will be unique, which gives a better result. The night sight will also be better. Finally astigmatism in the eyes will be corrected better.
Aspheric treatment is the newest step in eye surgery; and is used in combination with LASIK, LASEK and LASAK. The treatment takes into account that the cornea is not ball-shaped; but aspheric.
Without the Aspheric treatment the eye will be more ball-shaped when operating using LASIK, LASAK or LASEK. The result is reduced contrast ratio and bad night sight. When using the Aspheric treatment in combination with one of the three eye surgery methods, the curve in the central part of the eye will be made larger; which copy the normal (untreated) eye. With this method this method the result will be better; sometimes the sight will be even better than when using glasses or contact lenses.
Martin Elmer is writing about eye surgery in Oejenoperation. You can read about LASIK, LASEK, LASEK, Wavefront and Aspheric treatment in Laseroperationer.