Which type of refractive surgery offers the best long term benefits?

Hi James

Unfortunately it is not possible to give a definitive answer, as to which procedure offers the best long term benefits. Each procedure, in the right patient, can give very good long term benefits.

This is because each procedure has its own pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, and so for a particular patient the 'best' / most appropriate surgery could be different from someone else.

Among the factors that might be considered are the patient's eyes' characteristics and spectacle power, priorities (eg speed of recovery of vision), activities (eg involvement in high risk contact sports), personal preferences and so on.

A full discussion about the pros and cons of each technique can be exhaustive and confusing sometimes over the internet. You can find answers to a similar question here .

But the best thing to do is to have a check up and a frank discussion with a doctor you trust, at a clinic.

In some ways, it is a similar question to asking what is the best city in the world to live in? It all depends on you or in this case, your eyes. To be fair, the various methods of laser vision correction are good treatments in their own right.

How a surgeon recommends one over another really depends on the profile of the patient’s eyes. Eg. severity of refractive errors, thickness and shape of cornea, patient's lifestyle etc.

Rely on a surgeon you trust to help you navigate through the various choices. He should present the pros and cons of each procedure type with respect to your own eyes. Avoid the surgeon that tells you that one treatment is the best for everyone. Though it is possible that your eyes may be suited to only one particular type of procedure due to specific profile of your eyes.

Dr David Chan