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Looking to have laser surgery on my eyes for vision correction. Had 2 different consults...both agreed that my corneas are on the thin side of normal and that I would not be a candidate for LASIK, however, that I would be a good candidate for LASEK. Done lots of research and feel like I know what I'm in for.
Just curious if any of you have done it.
For those that don't know the difference between LASIK and LASEK:
LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis) is a relatively new procedure that is technically a variation of PRK. Also called epithelial LASIK or E-LASIK, LASEK is used mostly for people with corneas that are too thin or too flat for LASIK. It was developed to reduce the chance of complications that occur when the flap created during LASIK is not the ideal thickness or diameter.
The LASEK Procedure
In LASEK, the epithelium, or outer layer of the cornea, is cut not with the microkeratome cutting tool used in LASIK, but with a finer blade called a trephine. Then the surgeon covers the eye with an alcohol solution (perhaps one part alcohol and four parts sterile water) for around 30 seconds. The solution loosens the edges of the epithelium.
Click Here to Learn About Local LASIK Surgeons:
After sponging the alcohol solution from the eye, the surgeon uses a tiny hoe to lift the edge of the epithelial flap and gently fold it back out of the way. Then he or she uses an excimer laser, as in LASIK or PRK, to sculpt the corneal tissue underneath. Afterward, the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with a kind of spatula.
After LASEK
In many ways, what you can expect from LASEK is similar to what you can expect from LASIK, but there are some differences. According to doctors who perform LASEK, the flap edge heals in about a day, though patients usually wear a bandage contact lens for around four days. You may feel eye irritation during the first day or two afterward. Also, the time it takes to recover good vision is often longer — up to four to seven days. Of course, it varies from one person to the next.
What Are the Advantages of LASEK Laser Eye Surgery? LASEK surgery includes several advantages, including:
Just curious if any of you have done it.
For those that don't know the difference between LASIK and LASEK:
LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis) is a relatively new procedure that is technically a variation of PRK. Also called epithelial LASIK or E-LASIK, LASEK is used mostly for people with corneas that are too thin or too flat for LASIK. It was developed to reduce the chance of complications that occur when the flap created during LASIK is not the ideal thickness or diameter.
The LASEK Procedure
In LASEK, the epithelium, or outer layer of the cornea, is cut not with the microkeratome cutting tool used in LASIK, but with a finer blade called a trephine. Then the surgeon covers the eye with an alcohol solution (perhaps one part alcohol and four parts sterile water) for around 30 seconds. The solution loosens the edges of the epithelium.
Click Here to Learn About Local LASIK Surgeons:
After sponging the alcohol solution from the eye, the surgeon uses a tiny hoe to lift the edge of the epithelial flap and gently fold it back out of the way. Then he or she uses an excimer laser, as in LASIK or PRK, to sculpt the corneal tissue underneath. Afterward, the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with a kind of spatula.
After LASEK
In many ways, what you can expect from LASEK is similar to what you can expect from LASIK, but there are some differences. According to doctors who perform LASEK, the flap edge heals in about a day, though patients usually wear a bandage contact lens for around four days. You may feel eye irritation during the first day or two afterward. Also, the time it takes to recover good vision is often longer — up to four to seven days. Of course, it varies from one person to the next.
What Are the Advantages of LASEK Laser Eye Surgery? LASEK surgery includes several advantages, including:
- Complications associated with cutting and reattaching the flap in the cornea are avoided.
- LASEK laser eye surgery causes dry eye less frequently than LASIK laser eye surgery.
- Longer visual recovery time compared to LASIK laser eye surgery. Many LASEK patients will not fully recover functional vision for 1 to 2 weeks while their eye heals, which is similar to the healing time experienced in PRK laser eye surgery. LASIK laser eye surgery patients often have good vision by the day after surgery.
- LASEK laser eye surgery may cause more pain and discomfort than LASIK , but less pain than PRK laser eye surgery. Most LASEK laser eye surgery patients say the discomfort lasts about 2 days or less.
- Patients need to wear a "bandage contact lens" for about 3 or 4 days after LASEK laser eye surgery to serve as a protective layer between your blinking eyelids and the treated eye surface, which is not necessary after LASIK.
- Patients must use topical steroid drops for several weeks longer than that used after LASIK laser eye surgery.
I hope you find the info you need and GOOD LUCK
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