Types of Laser Eye Surgery: A Complete Guide

Short answer: There are three main types of laser eye surgery: LASIK, PRK (including TransPRK) and lenticule extraction (CLEAR, in the same family as SMILE). All of them reshape the cornea, the clear window at the front of your eye, to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. They differ in how the surgeon reaches the tissue being reshaped, how quickly you recover and which eyes they suit. No single type is the best or safest for everyone; modern laser vision correction as a whole has a strong safety record in large published outcome reviews (Sandoval et al., 2016).

This guide, from the corneal surgeons at Focus Vision in Brisbane, covers how laser eye surgery works, how each type compares, what changes after 40, the benefits and risks, what to expect on the day, recovery and cost. If you are also weighing up implantable contact lenses or lens surgery, see Which eye surgery is best for me?

How laser eye surgery works

The cornea does most of the focusing in your eye. Laser eye surgery makes it microscopically flatter or steeper by removing a very small, precisely planned amount of tissue, so that light focuses on the retina without glasses. It treats myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism (AAO).

Laser eye surgery has been widely available since the early 1990s. What has changed since then is how the surgeon reaches the tissue to be reshaped, and how precisely the treatment is planned. At Focus Vision, surgery is performed on the only hospital-based laser in Queensland.

The three types compared

	LASIK	PRK and TransPRK	CLEAR (lenticule extraction)
How it works	A femtosecond laser makes a thin flap; an excimer laser reshapes the cornea underneath	The surface cells are removed (by the laser itself in TransPRK) and the surface is reshaped	A femtosecond laser shapes a thin disc of tissue inside the cornea, removed through a small incision
Flap	Yes	No	No
Comfort and recovery	Gritty for a few hours; most people see well the next day	Sore for a few days; vision settles over weeks	Misty for about a day; vision fluctuates for about a week
Time off work (Focus Vision guide)	About 2 days	About 1 week	A few days
Often suits	Most prescriptions with enough corneal thickness	Thinner corneas, contact sports, defence and police roles	Short-sightedness with or without astigmatism
Price per eye (all-inclusive)	From $4,250	From $3,500	From $4,250

Prices are from our costs page and exclude prescribed medications and eye drops.

LASIK

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) uses two lasers side by side. The first, a femtosecond laser, creates a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. The surgeon lifts the flap, and an excimer laser reshapes the tissue underneath to match your prescription. The flap is then laid back down and seals in place (AAO).

Recovery is quick. The eye is usually uncomfortable for the first evening, and most people see well the next day. The trade-off is the flap itself: complications related to the flap are very rare, but they are the reason some people, such as those in contact sports, are steered towards a flap-free option.

Ray Tracing LASIK is a personalised form of LASIK. Your treatment is planned from an individual model of your eye, built from detailed measurements of its shape and optics, on the Alcon WaveLight Plus platform (Alcon). Focus Vision is the only clinic in Queensland offering it. Read more on our Ray Tracing LASIK page.

PRK and TransPRK

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) creates no flap. The thin surface layer of cells (the epithelium) is removed and the excimer laser reshapes the cornea directly. In TransPRK, the laser removes the surface layer as well, so nothing touches the eye. The surface cells grow back over several days, during which the eye is sore and a bandage contact lens protects it (StatPearls).

Recovery is slower than LASIK, but long-term results are similar (Shortt et al., 2013), and with no flap the cornea is left without flap-related risks. That makes PRK and TransPRK a common choice for thinner corneas and for people in contact sports or defence and police roles.

Focus Vision’s co-founder Dr David Gunn and Rebecca Cox have published a peer-reviewed series of 205 eyes treated with StreamLight TransPRK at one Brisbane site, in which 95.6% of eyes saw 20/20 or better without glasses (Gunn & Cox, 2024). See the published TransPRK results for the full figures.

CLEAR and SMILE (lenticule extraction)

Lenticule extraction is the newest family of laser eye surgery. A femtosecond laser shapes a thin disc of tissue (a lenticule) inside the cornea, and the surgeon removes it through a small incision, with no flap (AAO). The procedure goes by several brand names, including CLEAR, SMILE, SmartSight and Silk.

Focus Vision performs CLEAR, Ziemer’s femtosecond-only lenticule extraction. In published one-year series, outcomes after CLEAR are comparable to SMILE and femtosecond LASIK (J Refract Surg, 2024). Because fewer corneal nerves are cut than with a LASIK flap, dry eye in the early months is less common after SMILE-type procedures than after femtosecond LASIK (Shen et al., 2016). Read more in our guide to CLEAR.

Laser eye surgery after 40: Laser Blended Vision

From the early 40s, the lens inside the eye gradually loses its ability to change focus. Most people find they hold things further away to read, and by about 45 most need reading glasses. This is presbyopia, and it comes from the ageing lens, not the cornea (AAO). If both eyes are lasered for clear distance vision, you will still need reading glasses.

Laser Blended Vision plans the treatment so that the dominant eye is set for distance and the other eye for nearer work, while extending each eye’s depth of focus. Together the eyes give a continuous range of focus, reducing or removing the need for reading glasses (PRESBYOND outcomes study). At Focus Vision we typically aim the near eye at around −1.50 D, which gives a focus point of about 70 cm.

Trying it first. If you already use blended vision in contact lenses, you can go straight to laser. If not, we arrange a contact lens trial so you can spend a few hours doing near work, looking into the distance and travelling in a car. You are checking that the difference between your eyes feels comfortable, that your depth perception feels normal, and that you have enough reading vision. If you don’t like the effect, lens exchange with a multifocal lens is an alternative. See how to get rid of reading glasses for all the options.

Laser or lens surgery? As a general guide from our surgeons: under 50, laser eye surgery is usually the better option; over 60, refractive lens exchange usually is; between 50 and 60 it is decided case by case. For some long-sighted patients, an implantable contact lens or lens exchange can be better than laser from the late 30s.

Who is suitable for laser eye surgery?

You are likely to be a candidate if you:

• are at least 18 and have had a stable prescription for at least a year (FDA);
• have short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism within the range the laser can treat;
• have healthy eyes, without significant dry eye, cataract or glaucoma;
• have corneas that are thick enough and regularly shaped.

Corneal conditions such as keratoconus usually rule laser vision correction out; keratoconus is assessed and treated separately (drbrendancronin.com.au). For more detail, see Am I suitable for laser eye surgery?, who should not have it, the LASIK age limit, or take our online suitability test.

Benefits of laser eye surgery

• Clear vision without glasses or contacts. You wake up seeing clearly, and swimming, surfing, running and travel no longer involve glasses or lens cases. In a three-year survey comparing LASIK with contact lens wear, LASIK patients reported higher visual satisfaction (Price et al., 2016).
• No contact lens infections. Contact lens wear carries a risk of serious corneal infection, particularly when lenses aren’t cared for properly (CDC). Without contacts, that risk goes.
• Lower ongoing costs. Over the years, glasses, contact lenses, solutions and replacements add up. Surgery is a one-off cost, and interest-free payment plans spread it over 24 months.

Risks and side effects

Every type of laser eye surgery carries risks, and your surgeon will go through them with you.

• Dry eye. Almost everyone has some dryness after laser eye surgery. The corneal nerves are disrupted, so the eyes often don’t feel dry; instead vision blurs or fluctuates. Symptoms usually settle over three to six months as the nerves recover, so using your lubricating drops as prescribed matters (AAO EyeWiki). In a small randomised study, omega-3 supplements taken before and after LASIK improved tear production at three months but not tear-film stability (PubMed); your surgeon may suggest one. A year after LASIK, in a 2026 study of 300 US patients treated on the Alcon WaveLight EX500 (the laser Focus Vision uses for LASIK), 72% had no dry-eye symptoms and 42% were still using artificial tears, most of them once a day (Lobanoff et al., 2026).
• Glare, halos and night vision. Some people notice glare, halos or starbursts around lights, especially early on and at night (FDA PROWL). In the same 2026 study, 3% or fewer found glare, halos or starbursts very or extremely bothersome a year after LASIK, but only 54% had no difficulty at all driving at night, compared with 94% during the day (Lobanoff et al., 2026). See dry eye, glare and halos after LASIK for the full results and the study’s limits.
• Under- or over-correction. If your vision needs fine-tuning once it is stable, enhancements are free for two years under our enhancement policy.
• Rare serious complications. Infection, flap problems after LASIK, and loss of best-corrected vision are rare (Sandoval et al., 2016).

The reshaping of the cornea is permanent, but your eyes still age: presbyopia in your 40s and cataract later in life can change your vision for other reasons. See how long laser eye surgery lasts.

What to expect: before, on the day and after

Before surgery. Every patient starts with a free optometrist assessment, then a paid consultation with a specialist surgeon to confirm suitability and plan the treatment; the consultation fee is deducted from the surgery price if you go ahead. Stay out of soft contact lenses for 7 days before both your assessment and your surgery, and longer for hard lenses or ortho-k, because lenses change the shape of the cornea (FDA).

On the day. Plan on about two hours at the day hospital (two to three hours for CLEAR). You will be offered a mild sedative, your eye is numbed with drops, and a small clip holds your eyelids open. You feel pressure during the femtosecond step of LASIK and CLEAR, and your vision dims for a moment. During the excimer step you look at a blinking light. Before surgery, a scan records the details of your iris; under the laser, the tracker recognises your eye from that scan, follows its movements 1,050 times a second and adjusts the treatment, pausing if you move too far (SCHWIND). The laser part takes seconds to about a minute. You must have someone to take you home.

After surgery. You go home with drops and protective shields to wear while you sleep. Don’t rub your eyes. After PRK and TransPRK, wear sunglasses outdoors to protect the healing surface. Follow-up visits are usually at one day (LASIK and CLEAR), one week and three months; if you live outside Brisbane, the last can be with your local optometrist. Most PRK patients can drive at their one-week check, and some need another week or two. For a week-by-week account, see our laser eye surgery recovery timeline.

When can I get back to normal activities?

Focus Vision’s guide to the time to wait after each procedure. Your surgeon may adjust it for your eyes.

Activity	PRK / TransPRK	LASIK	CLEAR
Driving	1 week	Usually 1 day	1–7 days
Flying	1 week	1 day	1 day
Shower	1 day	1 day	1 day
Hair wash, face make-up	2 days	2 days	2 days
Eye make-up	1 week	1 week	2 days
Jogging, gym weights, pilates, yoga	2 days	2 days	2 days
Cycling, tennis	1 week	1 week	1 week
Golf	1 week	1 day	1 week
Horse riding, skiing	2 weeks	2 weeks	1 week
Squash	4 weeks	4 weeks	1 week
Swimming, surfing	4 weeks	2 weeks	1 week
Sailing	2 weeks	2 weeks	1 week
Scuba diving	4 weeks	4 weeks	1 week
Sauna	4 weeks	4 weeks	2 days
Steam room, hot yoga	4 weeks	4 weeks	7 days
Boxing, martial arts, rugby, soccer	4 weeks	4 weeks	4 weeks
Bungee, skydiving	4 weeks	4 weeks	4 weeks
Hair colouring	2 weeks	2 weeks	2 days
Eyelash tint or extensions	4 weeks	4 weeks	4 weeks

Alternatives to laser eye surgery

• Implantable contact lens (ICL). A lens placed inside the eye, often better for very high prescriptions, dry eyes or corneas that aren’t suitable for laser. See are implantable contact lenses safe?
• Refractive lens exchange. Replacing the eye’s natural lens, usually from the mid-40s to 50s onwards.
• Orthokeratology (ortho-k). Special contact lenses worn overnight that temporarily reshape the cornea, so you see without glasses during the day.
• Modern contact lenses. If you couldn’t tolerate one type of lens, another material or design may suit you.

Cost and health cover

All-inclusive prices per eye at Focus Vision: TransPRK from $3,500; LASIK and Ray Tracing LASIK from $4,250; CLEAR from $4,250. Prices include pre-operative assessments, the procedure and a year of follow-up appointments, with no surcharge for higher prescriptions. Prescribed medications and eye drops are extra. Interest-free payment plans start from $34 a week, and enhancements are free for two years. See our costs page for the full list.

Medicare does not cover laser eye surgery to correct your prescription, because it is treated as elective (healthdirect). A few top-tier private health policies do; see Does Bupa cover laser eye surgery? and Does Medibank cover laser eye surgery?

To find out which type suits your eyes, book a free optometrist assessment or call (07) 3239 5005.

References

1. Sandoval HP, Donnenfeld ED, Kohnen T, et al. Modern laser in situ keratomileusis outcomes. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2016;42(8):1224-1234. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27531300
2. American Academy of Ophthalmology. LASIK — Laser Eye Surgery. EyeSmart. aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik
3. Alcon. WaveLight Plus (product page). myalcon.com/professional/refractive/wavelight-plus
4. StatPearls. Photorefractive Keratectomy: Treatment & Management. statpearls.com/point-of-care/81676
5. Shortt AJ, Allan BD, Evans JR. Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) versus photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(1):CD005135. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11848121
6. Gunn DJ, Cox RA. StreamLight single-step transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia and myopic astigmatism. J Ophthalmol. 2024;2024:5597457. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39575318
7. American Academy of Ophthalmology. What Is Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE)? EyeSmart. aao.org/eye-health/treatments/what-is-small-incision-lenticule-extraction
8. Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction Using the Ziemer FEMTO LDV Z8 Platform (CLEAR): One-Year Results. J Refract Surg. 2024. doi:10.3928/1081597X-20241016-01. journals.healio.com/doi/full/10.3928/1081597X-20241016-01
9. Shen Z, Zhu Y, Song X, Yan J, Yao K. Dry eye after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) versus femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for myopia: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2016. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0168081. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27992482
10. American Academy of Ophthalmology. What Is Presbyopia? EyeSmart. aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-presbyopia
11. Outcomes of Corneal Compound Myopic Astigmatism with Presbyopia by Zeiss PRESBYOND Laser Blended Vision LASIK Using Default CRS-Master Target Refractions for Reduced Anisometropia. PubMed Central PMC11122580. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11122580
12. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When is LASIK not for me? fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/when-lasik-not-me
13. Price et al. Three-Year Longitudinal Survey Comparing Visual Satisfaction with LASIK and Contact Lenses. Ophthalmology. 2016. sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161642016300963
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Causes Bacterial Keratitis (Healthy Contact Lens Wear and Care). cdc.gov
15. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dry Eyes After Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK). EyeWiki. eyewiki.org
16. Randomised study of oral omega-3 supplementation before and after LASIK. PubMed 28060063. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28060063
17. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project (PROWL studies). fda.gov
18. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. LASIK: What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? fda.gov
19. SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions. SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS: High-performance eye laser (product page). eye-tech-solutions.com/schwind-amaris1050
20. healthdirect Australia. Laser eye surgery. healthdirect.gov.au/laser-eye-surgery
21. Lobanoff MC, Mann PM II, Parikh M, Brenner J, Hall B. Multi-site study of patient reported vision quality and dry eye following LASIK. Clin Ophthalmol. 2026;20:566803. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S566803. doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S566803