The main types of LASIK differ in how the corneal flap is created and how the laser treatment is planned. This guide compares traditional LASIK, Femto LASIK, bladeless and customized LASIK, while explaining why PRK and SMILE are different vision correction procedures.
Last Updated: 6/10/2026
The main types of LASIK differ in two important ways: how the corneal flap is created and how the excimer laser treatment is planned. Traditional LASIK uses a microkeratome to create the flap, while Femto LASIK or bladeless LASIK uses a femtosecond laser. Customized LASIK may use wavefront or corneal topography data to personalize the laser treatment.
The right option depends on corneal thickness, prescription stability, dry eye, eye health, and detailed preoperative testing. Magrabi doctors emphasize that comparing different LASIK types should begin with a complete eye assessment rather than choosing between LASIK surgery options based on the technology name alone.
If you are comparing LASIK options, start by understanding how LASIK Surgery is assessed and planned at Magrabi Health before choosing a specific technique
When people compare LASIK eye surgery types, several names may appear. These LASIK eye surgery types do not always represent completely separate procedures. Some describe the way the corneal flap is created, while others describe how the laser treatment is customized.
Understanding the different types of LASIK surgery becomes easier when LASIK types are grouped according to flap creation and treatment planning. Several LASIK techniques can also be combined within the same procedure.
This distinction is important because several LASIK techniques can be combined. A patient may, for example, undergo Femto LASIK with customized topography-guided treatment. It would therefore be misleading to treat every name as a completely separate operation.
Traditional LASIK, sometimes called microkeratome LASIK, is a flap-based LASIK technique.
A mechanical microkeratome creates a thin corneal flap. The surgeon lifts the flap, and an excimer laser reshapes the underlying corneal tissue according to the planned refractive correction. The flap is then repositioned.
This approach can be used to correct selected cases of:
Myopia.
Hyperopia.
Astigmatism.
Suitability still depends on the individual eye rather than the refractive error alone.
Femto LASIK changes the method used to create the corneal flap.
Instead of a mechanical microkeratome, a femtosecond laser creates the flap. For this reason, Femto LASIK is also commonly described as bladeless LASIK or all-laser LASIK.
The excimer laser then performs the vision correction by reshaping the underlying cornea.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration explains that the main difference between traditional LASIK and all-laser LASIK is the method used to create the flap. It also notes that there is no absolute agreement that one flap-creation method is the best choice for every patient. Factors such as flap precision, complications, visual recovery, and individual circumstances must be considered.
Customized LASIK changes how the excimer laser treatment is planned.
Instead of relying only on a standard eyeglass prescription, additional measurements of the eye may be used to develop a customized laser treatment.
Depending on the system, this may include:
Wavefront measurements.
Corneal topography.
Corneal shape and optical characteristics.
Refractive measurements.
Customized LASIK can therefore be combined with different flap-creation methods.
Topography-guided LASIK uses detailed mapping of the corneal surface to help plan the laser ablation.
Systems such as Contoura Vision fall within this category of customized LASIK. The treatment planning uses corneal topography to account for characteristics of the corneal surface in addition to the patient's refractive correction.
A 2026 study comparing topography-guided LASIK with wavefront-guided LASIK found that both customized approaches produced strong refractive and patient-reported outcomes, although each showed advantages in different visual measures. This supports an individualized approach rather than assuming that one customized method is universally superior.
Wavefront-guided LASIK uses measurements of how light travels through the optical system of the eye.
These measurements can identify optical aberrations beyond standard measurements of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The resulting data may then be used to customize the laser treatment.
Wavefront-guided treatment should not be confused with flap creation. A patient may undergo Femto LASIK for flap creation and wavefront-guided treatment for the laser ablation.
The easiest way to understand LASIK surgery types is to separate two parts of the procedure.
LASIK option | How is the flap created? | How is treatment planned? | Key point |
Traditional LASIK | Mechanical microkeratome | Standard or customized excimer treatment | Uses a mechanical device for flap creation |
Femto LASIK | Femtosecond laser | Standard or customized excimer treatment | Also known as bladeless LASIK |
Wavefront-guided LASIK | Microkeratome or femtosecond laser may be used | Wavefront-based customized treatment | Customization relates mainly to ablation planning |
Topography-guided LASIK | Commonly combined with modern flap creation | Corneal topography-guided treatment | Uses detailed corneal surface mapping |
Ultra LASIK | Depends on how the term is being used | May involve customized treatment | The exact technology should be confirmed |
This explains why LASIK eye surgery types are not always completely separate procedures. Modern LASIK may combine several LASIK methods in one treatment plan.
The main difference between traditional LASIK and Femto LASIK is how the corneal flap is created.
Comparison Point | Traditional LASIK | Femto LASIK |
Corneal flap creation | A mechanical microkeratome creates the corneal flap. | A femtosecond laser creates the corneal flap. |
Vision correction step | After the flap is created, an excimer laser reshapes the cornea and changes its focusing power. | After the flap is created, an excimer laser reshapes the cornea and changes its focusing power. |
Main technical difference | Uses a mechanical method for flap creation. | Uses a femtosecond laser for flap creation. |
Principle of vision correction | Uses flap-based LASIK followed by excimer laser reshaping. | Uses the same general flap-based LASIK principle, but with a different method for creating the flap. |
Factors affecting the choice | Corneal measurements, eye health, available technology, and the ophthalmologist’s assessment should all be considered. | Corneal measurements, eye health, available technology, and the ophthalmologist’s assessment should all be considered. |
The choice should therefore not be based only on whether one procedure is described as "traditional" or "modern LASIK." Corneal measurements, eye health, available technology, and the ophthalmologist's assessment all matter.
If you want to understand where flap creation and corneal reshaping fit within the full procedure, read Magrabi Health’s step-by-step guide to the steps of LASIK eye surgery.
Standard treatment is primarily planned around the refractive error being corrected.
Customized LASIK uses additional diagnostic measurements to individualize the ablation pattern. Depending on the LASIK system, this may involve wavefront data, corneal topography, or other detailed measurements.
The important distinction is that "customized" describes treatment planning rather than necessarily describing how the flap is created.
A customized procedure may therefore also be:
Femto LASIK.
Bladeless LASIK.
Topography-guided LASIK.
Wavefront-guided LASIK.
This overlap is one reason a simple procedure comparison based only on treatment names can be confusing.
If you are comparing different LASIK techniques Ask Magrabi Health About LASIK Options on WhatsApp, the team can guide you to the relevant UAE branch and next step.
Ultra LASIK is a term patients may encounter while researching LASIK techniques, but the name does not by itself explain exactly how the operation will be performed.
Depending on the technology and clinical setting, the term may be used for LASIK that combines femtosecond flap creation with a customized laser treatment or another modern treatment protocol.
For that reason, patients considering Ultra LASIK should ask more specific questions:
Is the corneal flap created with a microkeratome or femtosecond laser?
Is the treatment standard, wavefront-guided, or topography-guided?
Which diagnostic measurements are used?
What does the ophthalmologist recommend after examining the cornea?
Is the technique suitable for the patient's prescription and corneal thickness?
The technology behind the name is more clinically useful than the label itself.
No. PRK and SMILE are different refractive procedures rather than LASIK types.
They are part of the broader range of types of vision correction surgery and may be considered alongside LASIK when comparing laser vision correction options.
They belong to the broader group of types of vision correction surgery and may be considered when discussing alternatives to LASIK.
In the UAE, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi lists LASIK, PRK, SMILE, and phakic IOLs separately under refractive corneal surgery in its published Scope of Practice for Ophthalmologists.
This reflects the broader clinical distinction between LASIK and other refractive procedures: they may share the goal of correcting refractive error, but they do not use the same surgical technique.
PRK is a surface laser vision correction procedure.
Unlike LASIK, PRK does not create a corneal flap. The surface epithelium is removed so that laser reshaping can be performed on the underlying cornea. The surface then heals after treatment.
Because the procedures use different approaches to the cornea, the recovery process also differs.
SMILE is also not a type of LASIK.
During SMILE, a femtosecond laser creates a small piece of corneal tissue called a lenticule within the cornea. The surgeon removes this tissue through a small incision, changing the shape of the cornea without creating the LASIK-style corneal flap.
LASIK, PRK, and SMILE are therefore different types of laser eye surgery, even though they may share the same broad goal of reducing refractive error.
If you are comparing PRK with LASIK surgery options, Magrabi Health also explains the differences in its detailed PRK vs LASIK guide.
Choosing between different LASIK surgery types requires more than comparing technology names.
At Magrabi Health, the ophthalmologist first evaluates whether laser vision correction is appropriate at all. Important factors can include:
Corneal thickness and shape.
Corneal topography.
Current refractive error.
Whether the patient has myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.
Whether there is a stable prescription.
Dry eye symptoms and eye surface health.
Previous eye surgery or corneal problems.
Pupil characteristics.
General eye health.
Age and medical history.
Lifestyle and visual expectations.
These findings help determine whether one of the LASIK surgery options is appropriate or whether another refractive procedure should be considered.
People searching for the best type of LASIK or best type of LASIK surgery often expect one LASIK method to be better for everyone. However, the answer to which type of LASIK is best depends on the individual eye rather than the procedure name alone.
Magrabi doctors explain that which LASIK surgery is best can only be considered after reviewing corneal thickness and shape, prescription stability, dry eye status, refractive error, and overall eye health.
For example, one patient may be suitable for Femto LASIK with customized treatment, while another may be advised to consider PRK or another vision correction option instead.
The question should therefore not simply be which LASIK surgery is best. A more useful question is which treatment provides an appropriate balance of suitability, expected benefit, limitations, and risk for that particular eye.
If you are comparing LASIK options or LASIK procedures, consider asking the ophthalmologist:
Am I medically suitable for LASIK?
Is my prescription stable enough for refractive surgery?
Is my cornea thick and healthy enough for flap-based LASIK?
Which method will be used to create the corneal flap?
Will my treatment use standard or customized laser planning?
Would topography-guided LASIK be relevant to my eyes?
Why is this treatment being recommended instead of another LASIK option?
Should I also consider PRK, SMILE, or another refractive procedure?
How may dry eye affect my suitability or recovery?
What risks, limitations, and follow-up requirements apply to my case?
A detailed consultation is more useful than selecting a procedure based only on the name of the technology.
If you are unsure which LASIK or vision correction option may be appropriate for your eyes, you can call Magrabi Health through a phone call or the booking form a detailed assessment can help clarify the available choices.
The different types of LASIK are best understood by looking at how the corneal flap is created and how the laser correction is planned. Traditional LASIK, Femto LASIK, and customized approaches such as topography-guided LASIK offer different technical options, while PRK and SMILE are separate refractive procedures. At Magrabi Health, the appropriate treatment is determined after evaluating the cornea, prescription, eye surface, overall eye health, and individual visual needs.
Medically reviewed By Magrabi Health Specialized Doctors
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified specialist.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration — LASIK FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery / PubMed — Comparison of Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes of Contralateral Topography-Guided vs Wavefront-Guided LASIK, 2026
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi
LASIK Age Limit 7 Key Facts About the Right Age for LASIK
Ultra LASIK vs Femto LASIK: Which One Is Right for Your Eyes?
LASIK Eye Surgery Cost in the UAE: What Affects the Final Price?
