If you or someone you love has been considering laser eye surgery in Calgary AB and you’re not sure where to start, Optiko is here to help.

Our mission is to give our patients the best laser vision correction experience possible, and we do that by making sure they have all the information they need before they make a decision. We offer laser eye surgery consultation and co-management services, so if you’re interested in learning more about what laser vision correction can do for you, or if you just want some help getting started with your own research, we’d be happy to hear from you!

Whether you’re considering LASIK, PRK, or refractive lens exchange, we’ll help you understand the procedure and make sure it’s right for you. We’ll also provide information about financing options and insurance coverage, so you can make an informed decision about how best to proceed.

Once your surgery is scheduled, our doctors and eye care team will be there every step of the way – from pre-op appointments and consultations with our partnering ophthalmic surgeons to post-op follow-ups with our staff.

The Optiko team is here to help you see better! We have two clinics in Calgary, and we’d love to help you on your journey to better vision. Visit us at either our Market Mall or Sunridge Mall locations or give us a call to learn more.

Vision Correction Surgery Fact Sheet

Types of Vision Correction Surgeries

There are lots of different types of vision correction surgeries. Some are more common than others, and each type has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. The most common types of vision correction procedures include:

Laser Vision Correction

Laser vision correction is a safe and effective way to correct your myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and/or astigmatism. It is the most common procedure for improving eyesight. During the procedure, an ophthalmic surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea, or clear part of the eye. There are 2 main methods of laser vision correction as outlined below:

LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK, which is short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a corneal surgery that reshapes that cornea and corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure takes about 10 minutes per eye and can be performed as an outpatient procedure. The healing process is quick; you should be fully recovered within a few days following your surgery.

The ophthalmic surgeon will use a tool called a femtosecond laser to create a thin flap on the epithelium (outer layer) of your cornea, which is then folded up and out of the way while another type of laser technology reshapes the internal surface and fixes any issues with eye curvature. Finally, the eye doctor replaces the flap of epithelial tissue over the rest of the cornea so that the tissue can heal.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was the original precursor to LASIK surgery. Today, PRK is still frequently used, although it has largely been replaced by its more popular successor, LASIK. Like LASIK, PRK can also correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This surgery is a great choice for people with thin corneas, or who have an active lifestyle in which the LASIK flap could be dislodged. The procedure is brief, typically taking about 10 minutes and is also performed as an outpatient procedure.

During the procedure, your ophthalmologist will use a specialized laser to remove the outer layer of your cornea. Once your corneal epithelium (outer layer of the cornea) is removed, your ophthalmic surgeon will reshape your cornea with an excimer laser to correct your refractive error. Next, your doctor will place a bandage contact lens on your eye to help it heal more comfortably. The healing process following PRK takes slightly longer than LASIK, so we recommend you take one week off of school or work to allow your eyes to fully recover.

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

The most common type of refractive eye surgery is called Phakic IOL. It’s typically used to treat people with cataracts, which are clouded lenses that can block vision and cause eye problems. It can also help patients with higher levels of myopia that laser surgery would not be able to correct as well as having the added benefit of leaving the cornea unaltered. On the other hand, refractive lens exchange has a longer and more involved recovery period than laser eye surgery. The surgery typically takes about 30 minutes and is done under local anesthesia. It is usually done on an outpatient basis.

This procedure uses an artificial lens implant called an intraocular lens (IOL) that’s similar to the natural lens in your eye. The implant is placed behind the iris (the coloured part of your eye) so it can focus light on your retina, just like the natural lens would have done.

Types of Common Refractive Errors

Myopia (nearsightedness)

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common condition that affects the eyes. It causes distant objects to appear blurry and close objects to appear clear.

The human eye has a lens that focusses light on the retina, located at the back of the eye. When you’re wearing glasses or contact lenses, they help your eyes focus that light properly. With myopia, the shape of your eyeball is too long, so light entering your eye is focussed in front of the retina instead of on it.

Myopia usually develops during childhood and adolescence, but it can also develop later in life.

Hyperopia (farsightedness)

The common name for hyperopia is farsightedness. It’s a condition where you can see things clearly at a distance, but struggle to focus on objects close up.

The reason hyperopia occurs is because of how the eye is shaped: it occurs when the eyeball is too short or the curvature of the cornea (your eye’s clear, protective outer layer) is too steep. Thus, the light entering your eye is focussed behind the retina instead of on top of it. When this happens, it prevents your eye from being able to focus well on nearby objects.

Hyperopia can be caused by natural age-related changes to your eye and happens to many people as they grow older. As you age, your eyeballs naturally shrink and the lenses in your eyes stiffen up, making it can harder to focus on things close up.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an eye condition in which the cornea, or front part of the eye, is misshapen. It’s caused by an irregularly shaped cornea, which means light rays are focussed at different parts on the retina in your eye. This can make it difficult to see things clearly and cause blurry vision and distorted images.

The cornea helps bend light so it can focus properly on your retina. But with astigmatism, the shape of your cornea is uneven, so your eyes will have trouble focussing light evenly across the retina.

Astigmatism is common in children and adults, especially those who are nearsighted or farsighted. It’s also more common in people over the age of 40 as their eyes naturally change as a function of aging.

At Optiko, we pride ourselves on having a great team that is committed to providing you with the best experience possible. We have a reputation for being thorough and professional when it comes to eye care, so if you’re looking to find out more about laser vision correction in Calgary AB, visit us at one of our two locations in Calgary – Market Mall and Sunridge Mall, or give us a call today!