LASIK is the treatment of choice for 90% of the people we treat at Focus. It is the most popular laser eye surgery in the UK and the world.
However, there are several different types of LASIK treatment you will find offered by clinics, and a host of other options for corrective surgery.
It is important to understand the differences between the different types of LASIK as they can have a significant impact on the outcome of your treatment.
Not sure what treatment is right for you? Book a free telephone consultation with a member of our team, and they can discuss your options.
We perform LASIK eye surgery in London for 85-90% of all laser eye treatments at Focus, with the remaining 10-15% being PRK (also sometimes referred to as LASEK). Published international studies show a similar ratio. [1]
LASIK is the preferred treatment for most people, and we switch to PRK only when the eye is not suitable for LASIK, or there is a specific lifestyle reason to choose PRK, such as active contact sports.
LASIK causes minimal discomfort and delivers rapid vision recovery within a few hours. PRK, in comparison, takes several days to heal even though the final results are the same. SMILE also has minimal discomfort but a slower vision recovery than LASIK. A recent study found that by three months after treatment, 98% of ray-tracing-guided LASIK patients had 20/20, compared to only 74% of SMILE Pro patients. [2]
Several technologies help plan your surgery. The most advanced is ray-tracing-guided LASIK. Most treatments at Focus Clinics use ray-tracing technology.
The four main types of LASIK offer differing levels of customisation, from off-the-shelf to fully made-to-measure. They are:
1.Ray-tracing guided surgery (RTG, WaveLight Plus)
2.Wavefront-optimised
3.Wavefront-guided
4.Topography-guided
These represent different ways of deciding how the cornea should be reshaped, while newer ray-tracing-guided LASIK uses a much more detailed model of the whole eye.
Focus Clinics currently offers standard LASIK alongside its most advanced option, Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK.
You can read more about the treatment itself, suitability and results on our LASIK eye surgery page.
The biggest jump in better laser vision results was from the development of treatments that preserve the natural ‘aspheric’ shape of the cornea, the clear front window of the eye. Wavefront-optimised laser eye surgery uses precise curvature data from corneal scans to reduce spherical aberrations that can occur with non-aspheric laser refractive surgery.
Wavefront-optimised LASIK remains an established treatment approach and can produce excellent results for many patients. It is less individually customised than newer ray-tracing-guided treatment, which models the optical system of the whole eye rather than primarily preserving the natural corneal profile.
Wavefront-Guided LASIK is only needed for a small number of patients whose eyes have high levels of optical aberrations.
Wavefront-guided treatments use measurements of how light waves travel through your eye, using an aberrometer, to target significant imperfections in optical quality. Such treatments are often described as custom LASIK.
Wavefront-guided LASIK represented an important step towards more personalised laser treatment because it could account for optical imperfections beyond the glasses prescription. LASIK technology has continued to develop, and newer ray-tracing systems can now model the way light travels through the entire eye in greater detail.
Topography-Guided LASIK uses precision maps of the corneal surface to create a custom LASIK procedure. Topography-guided laser treatment aims to regularise the corneal shape to improve optical quality and can address visual aberrations, as well as physical abnormalities such as corneal scars.
Unlike wavefront-guided treatment, which measures the optical system of the eye, topography-guided LASIK is primarily driven by the shape of the corneal surface.
We mention that distinction because different personalised LASIK technologies measure different aspects of the eye.
Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK is the most advanced LASIK option currently offered at Focus Clinics.
Instead of relying mainly on the glasses prescription, corneal shape or conventional wavefront measurements, ray tracing creates a detailed digital model of the individual eye. At Focus, around 140,000 measurements are used to build this digital eye twin.
The planned treatment can then be tested and refined on that model before the laser is applied to the real eye. This allows the treatment pattern to be personalised around how light actually travels through that particular eye.
The operation itself is still LASIK: a femtosecond laser creates a thin corneal flap and an excimer laser reshapes the tissue underneath. What changes is the level of detail used to plan that reshaping.
Focus has reported a 100% 20/20 vision success rate for common short-sighted prescriptions using its ray-tracing-guided LASIK technique.
LASIK type | What guides the treatment? | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|
Wavefront-optimised | Corneal curvature and an aspheric treatment profile | Designed to preserve the natural corneal shape and limit induced spherical aberration |
Wavefront-guided | Measurements of how light travels through the eye | Targets significant optical aberrations in selected eyes |
Topography-guided | Detailed maps of the corneal surface | Customises treatment around corneal shape and irregularities |
Ray-tracing guided | A detailed optical model of the whole eye | Treatment can be modelled and refined on a digital eye twin before surgery |
If you want to see how the operation is carried out step by step, read our LASIK procedure guide.
Focus Clinics currently offers standard LASIK and Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK.
Standard LASIK uses an established wavefront-optimised treatment approach, while Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK builds a much more detailed optical model of the eye before treatment is planned.
Which option is appropriate depends on your prescription, eye measurements and the findings from your consultation. Our LASIK eligibility page explains the other factors considered before LASIK is recommended.
LASIK is a life-changing surgery that can help you see clearly and live your life to the fullest. But like any surgery, it’s important to know what to expect before, during and after the procedure.
At Focus Clinics, we want you to be as comfortable and confident as possible with your decision to have LASIK surgery. That’s why we offer free LASIK consultations, so you can learn more about the procedure and ask any questions you may have.
To book a free LASIK consultation with one of our expert surgeons, please contact us today.
or call us on 0207 307 8250
These LASIK safety answers are written and reviewed by Focus Clinics chief surgeon, Mr David Allamby MD, who has performed more than 30,000 laser eye surgery procedures over 25 years. Focus is an Alcon-named Centre of Excellence and European training centre for ray-tracing-guided LASIK.
There is no single type of LASIK that is safest for everyone. The most important safeguard is careful screening and choosing the treatment that best matches your eyes.
You can read more about how LASIK risks are assessed and reduced in our LASIK Safety and Risks guide.
Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK is currently the most advanced LASIK option offered at Focus Clinics. It uses a detailed digital model of the eye to plan and refine treatment before surgery.
That depends on your prescription, corneal shape and thickness, optical measurements and the findings from your consultation. The treatment should be chosen from your eye measurements rather than from the name of the technology alone.
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To get a better idea of how we can help you, and also the different types of services we offer, book a consultation now.
100% 20/20 vision
Focus Clinic has a remarkable 100% success rate for 20/20 vision. We know of no other clinic that has matched these results. There is a big difference between, for example, 98% and 100% success, especially if you are in the 2%.
10 year guarantee
Your 10 Year Guarantee means you can return at any time if you have additional questions on the quality of your vision. If you have distance vision correction for short-sight then any repeat laser eye treatments to correct a return of myopia in the first 10 years are included free of charge.*
Most trusted eye treatment clinic
We have the highest trust rating of any ‘eye treatment’ rated clinic, according to independent review site TrustPilot. With an outstanding 9.9 out of 10, when it comes to your eyes, choose the clinic that actual patients trust the most.
*Terms and conditions apply, excludes any age-related changes and conditions unrelated to the primary treatment
An official Alcon Center of Excellence and European training hub for Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK - the first of its kind in the UK, delivering 20/20 vision in 100% of treated eyes based on published clinical research.
22 Wimpole Street,
London W1G 8GQ, UK
0207 307 8250
100% SUCCESS RATE
10 YEAR GUARANTEE
#1 IN THE UK TRUSTPILOT RATING
CELEBRITIES CLINIC OF CHOICE
