Are You a Candidate for LASEK?
LASEK (or Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy) is a suitable alternative when corneal shape or thickness makes the risk of LASIK unacceptable. Compared to LASIK, there is also less risk since there is no flap created, but there is a slightly longer healing and visual recovery period.
LASEK is relatively new and is only performed by select laser vision correction surgeons. Ophthalmologists, such as those in the Clear Advantage Laser Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who are experienced in performing this procedure for patients will recommend it when it is the best option for a particular patient's needs.
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Wondering what life would be like free of glasses or contact lenses? Then you owe it to yourself to consider LASEK. LASEK is an alternate treatment for refractive patients who are not ideal candidates for LASIK. It's a safe and effective procedure that treats a wide range of vision problems. Patients with unusually thin corneas are one group who might be best treated with LASEK.
LASEK provides a number of very important advantages like: allowing more patients to safely enjoy the benefits of refractive surgery, the microkeratome incision step is not required, and there is less discomfort and more rapid return of vision than with PRK.
If you have questions about LASEK, please contact one of the LASEK surgeons in our directory to schedule a consultation today! Doctors such as Dr. Gailitis in Miami, Florida and Dr. Sambursky of Binghamton, New York are experts on LASEK and can help you find the procedure that's best for you.
Correctible Vision Conditions.
Clear vision is the result of light passing through a perfectly shaped eye so that it focuses clearly on the retina. Abnormal focusing conditions of the eye are called refractive errors and consist of the following:
Nearsightedness (myopia) - Nearsightedness occurs when the cornea is too curved or the eye is too long. Light passes through the eye but focuses in front of the retina, which causes distant objects to appear blurry.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) - Farsightedness occurs when the cornea is too flat or the eyeball is too short. This causes light to focus at a point beyond the retina, resulting in blurry near vision and sometimes blurry distance vision as well.
Astigmatism - Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is oval-shaped like a football. When light passes through the cornea, it focuses in more than one place relative to the retina, which causes images near or far to appear blurred and distorted.
What to Expect after LASEK
The LASEK procedure is very similar to the LASIK procedure. The procedure itself only takes a few minutes. However, the recovery after LASEK takes a bit longer. For the first 24-48 hours after the procedure a contact lens bandage must be worn to protect the cornea. Recovery to crisp sharp vision usually takes several days to several weeks. For this reason, most laser vision correction surgeons usually perform LASEK on each eye a few days to a few weeks apart, unlike LASIK that is usually performed bilaterally. In addition, patients will usually use topical eye medicaltions for a couple of months postoperatively to ensure optimal healing after the procedure. LASEK patients will experience a slightly longer healing period. Recovery times may vary, so ask your laser vision correction surgeon for more details.
LASEK Step One - The laser vision correction surgeon loosens the epithelium (the outermost layer of the cornea) by using an alcohol solution that allows the surgeon to peel back the tissue.
LASEK Step Two - The excimer laser applies a cool beam of light, which gently reshapes the cornea to correct your vision.
LASEK Step Three - After the cornea is reshaped, the epithelium is returned back to its original position. A contact lens is put in place to aid in the healing and the reduction of pain of the cornea.
This article about LASEK has been provided courtesy of DoctorDirect.
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