Better eyesight through laser vision correction is an excellent way to greet the New Year. You literally see the world with new eyes, relieved of your total dependence on contact lenses and glasses.
At Advanced Lasik in Midtown East, New York City, and Duarte, and Long Beach, California, ophthalmologist Randa Garrana, MD, specializes in all major laser eye surgery procedures, so our team is well-placed to match you with the best option for your individual needs.
Each laser vision correction approach has advantages and disadvantages that we take into account for individual considerations, like eye condition and refractive errors. Balancing these factors between patient and procedure allows Dr. Garrana to recommend the best way to permanently correct your vision.
Laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) treats astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness with an approach that combines the advantages of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Perhaps the most obvious difference with LASEK is its design as a “flapless” procedure. LASIK requires an incision in the cornea to allow the reshaping of tissue beneath.
LASEK doesn’t require a flap. Instead, the outer layer of the cornea, the epithelium, is loosened with alcohol and slid aside, avoiding the need for a larger incision, which takes longer to heal.
Once the cornea is reshaped with LASEK, the epithelium is moved back and held in place with a special contact lens that acts as a bandage as the epithelial cells heal in the days following your procedure.
While every vision correction treatment has its unique elements, LASEK is ideally suited for patients who may not be eligible for corneal flap surgeries due to thin corneas. LASIK requires certain corneal thickness parameters for successful completion.
LASEK also sidesteps potential complications from flap creation. The flap necessary for LASIK destabilizes the cornea, leading to a risk of flap displacement or rippling in the event of an eye trauma before healing is complete.
Long-term, LASEK better preserves the stability of the cornea. You’re less likely to suffer corneal distortions and the healing process is more predictable than other laser vision correction procedures.
Certain eye conditions, including chronic dry eye, can make other vision correction procedures unsuitable, but won’t affect LASEK. Dry eye is also a potential complication of laser eye surgery — but LASEK is less likely to cause this problem.
Ectasia, a bulging and thinning condition of the cornea, is a rare complication of LASIK surgery. LASEK reduces your chances of this conditioning developing.
Start the new year with laser vision correction — and leave your glasses or contact lenses in the past. To learn more about LASEK and other options, schedule a visit at your nearest Advanced Lasik office today: We have one East Coast office in Midtown East, New York City, and two West Coast offices in Duarte and Long Beach, California.
