Which refractive surgery technique does NOT require making a flap with a microkeratome?

The correct answer to the question regarding which refractive surgery technique does not require making a flap with a microkeratome is Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK).

PRK is a type of refractive surgery designed to correct vision by reshaping the cornea. In this procedure, the outer layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is carefully removed to expose the underlying corneal tissue. An excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. Since the epithelium is removed directly and not a flap is created, PRK does not utilize a microkeratome, which is a device typically used in LASIK procedures to create a corneal flap.

In contrast, LASIK involves making a flap in the cornea, which is lifted to allow the excimer laser to reshape the underlying corneal stroma. Similarly, LASEK involves the creation of a flap, but in this case, it is a thin layer of epithelial cells that can be repositioned after laser treatment.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is another modern refractive technique that does not require the