LASEK or LASIK - Laser Treatment to Correct Vision

LASIK surgery is a very popular eye surgery among people who wear contact lenses or glasses. LASIK eye surgery has been proved to successfully correct common vision problems (myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, astigmatism and a combination thereof) in most of LASIK patients.

Studies on LASIK outcomes reported that at least 90% of LASIK patients achieve 20/40 or better visual acuity after LASIK surgery. This means that only 1% or less of LASIK patients that experience complications after the surgery and even most of the complications are treatable with enhancement surgery.

LASEK is a relatively new eye surgery, developed for patients that will not do very well with LASIK. The condition is probably because they have too thin or too flat of cornea. LASEK is an abbreviation of Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis. It is basically a variation of PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy). PRK is an eye surgery that has existed before LASIK eye surgery.

Studies show that LASEK procedure may helps in reducing risk of LASIK complications that usually occur when cutting the corneal flap during the LASIK surgery - not ideal in thickness and diameter.

The Procedure of LASEK Eye Surgery

The procedure of LASEK eye surgery consists of three steps:
1. There is no hinged corneal flap created with microkeratome blade or laser as in LASIK surgery. Instead, a finer blade called trephine and an alcohol solution is used to loosen the edges of epithelium. Then, the surgeon used a tiny hoe to gently lift the edge of epithelium and hold it back out of the way.

2. Excimer laser is used to remove the underlying corneal tissue.

3. The last step is to place back the epithelial flap into its original position by using a kind of spatula.

What you can expect from LASEK is almost similar to what you can expect from LASIK, only with some differences. The epithelial flap heals in about a day, but you will have to wear a bandage contact lens for about four days. Eye irritation is something that is avoidable for a day or two. The time for LASEK patients to recover good vision is often longer than LASIK patient, but of course it may vary from one person to another. Usually, it takes four to seven days.