Four types of Lasik surgery are currently offered by Lasik clinics in Singapore. Specifically, they are the standard Lasik, Intralase Lasik, Wavefront-guided Lasik and Bladess Wavefront-guided Lasik, all of which are surgical procedures to correct vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia(farsightedness), and astigmatism.
These 4 types of Lasik differ in advantages, procedures and cost. Following is a brief overview of the 4 types of Lasik in Singapore.
Standard Lasik
The most common and popular form of Lasik is the standard Lasik (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis). During this standard Lasik surgery procedure, a microkeratome metal blade slices the top of the cornea to create a flap, which is then folded back to allow an excimer laser to reshape the eye. Once the corrective structural changes are made to the eye, the flap is returned to its former position and allowed to heal by itself.
The entire procedure is painless and usually takes about 5 minutes to complete. Vision correction is immediate but blurriness can be experienced for the first 24 hrs. Normal activities can usually be resumed in a couple of days.
Cost: About SGD800 per eye.
Intralase Lasik
Similar to the standard Lasik procedure, instead of using a microkeratome metal blade to create the corneal flap, a femtosecond Intralase laser is used
This bladeless Lasik method is considered more superior and safer as thinner corneal flap can be created, and the chances of complications that are usually associated with the use of a metal blade are significantly reduced. Also, thinner flaps mean people with thin corneas who are considered unsuitable for standard Lasik are now suitable candidates.
This safer and more advance advanced type of Lasik is slightly more expensive than the standard Lasik.
Cost: Less than SGD1000 per eye.
Wavefront-Guided Lasik
Considered as the cutting-edge method of vision correction, Wavefront-guided Lasik, also known as custom Lasik or simply Wavefront Lasik offers a personalized way to correct vision.
A software called the Wavefront analyzer is used to create a 3-D map of the eye which allows a surgeon to detect and study any abnormalities that hinder the eye’s image processing capability. This map also allows the surgeon to customize a Lasik treatment that results in a more precise vision correction that are not possible with the standard types of Lasik surgery.
With Wavefront technology, patients can expect 20/20 vision, improved contrast sensitivity and reduced chances of post-Lasik complications such as poor night vison, glare and halos.
Cost: About $1100 per eye
Bladeless Wavefront-Guided Lasik
This type of Lasik is a combination of Wavefront-Guided Lasik and Intralase Lasik and thus combining the advantages of both surgical procedures. In this Lasik procedure, a femtosecond Intralase laser is used to create the corneal flap. Wavefront technology is then used to map the eye, and subsequently guide the excimer laser to make the individualized and precise correction on the cornea.
Among the 4 types of Lasik surgery, bladeless Waveform-Guided Lasik is the most expensive.
Cost: About SGD1300 per eye.
If you’re looking to improve your vision with laser eye surgery, you need to be aware of the above 4 types of Lasik available in Singapore Lasik surgery clinics. It’s recommended that you visit these clinics where eye professionals and surgeons can advise you on what type of Lasik surgery is the most suitable for you.
