Why are you reading this page? The most likely situation could be that you are wearing a glass or contact lens and you started to think that you need an alternative. So you started a research in the Internet. Then you are the right place:

"After wearing contact lenses for 35 years, you can't imagine the freedom I felt" says Goldstein who underwent laser eye surgery to correct common eye disorders, known as refractive errors such as near-sightedness ( Myopia ), far-sightedness ( Hyperopia ) and distorted vision ( Astigmatism ).

So, what is this Corrective Laser Eye Surgery? It is a surgical procedure to reshape the Cornea so that the light travelling through it is focussed on the Retina correctly.

Is this the only way to correct the refractive errors? No, there are several methods available , but Laser Eye Surgery is the latest treatments available with minimum inconveniences. Dr. Steven Trokel, a New York City ophthalmologist developed this surgical procedure in 1987 and the first surgery was performed on a German patient in 1988. In 1989, the first ever Laser Eye Clinic was opened in Toronto , Canada and the first UK clinic was opened at Clatterbridge hospital, in Wirral, in January 1991. Facts say that currently there are over 100,000 procedures performed in the UK and over 5 million all the over the world.

It all started off with a method of treatment called PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and then in the mid-90s came one of the most advanced method of treating refractive errors, LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis). Another method of treatment, modified version of PRK called LASEK (Laser assisted Epithelial Keratectomy), which not only provides consistent results and has a better safety profile than LASIK, and overcomes some of the problems with PRK, but causes a little discomfort and takes a little longer to recover. Currently, PRK and LASIK account for approximately 25% and 70% of treatments in Europe respectively.

Laser treatment can improve eyesight, often restoring 20/20 vision, takes approxmately 15 minutes, then 2-7 days recovery. Effect is permanent, so the patient no longer needs glasses or contact lenses, but does not prevent further natural deterioration in sight. Patients aged 45+ may still need reading glasses.