Refractive surgery | |
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![]() Surgeon performing a photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) | |
Specialty | ophthalmology, optometry |
Types | myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia |
Refractive surgery is an optional eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This can include various methods of surgical remodeling of the cornea (keratomileusis), lens implantation or lens replacement. The most common methods today use excimer lasers to reshape the curvature of the cornea. Refractive eye surgeries are used to treat common vision disorders such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism.