laser vision correction
LASEK
LASEK (blade-less laser eye surgery) is a technique in which a very thin (~50-micrometre or 0.05mm!) epithelial tissue flap is created using 18% alcohol solution placed on the eye for around 30 seconds. As there is no cutting involved it is generally thought to be the safest type of laser vision correction. The subsequent LASER ablation profile options are exactly the same as with LASIK with all 3 main treatment profiles available.
Major advantages of LASEK over LASIK are:
- Reduced surgical risks
- The very thin epithelial flap created is thought to have less impact on the strength of the cornea and thus LASEK may have greater long term biomechanic and optical stability
- Once healing is complete the cornea may be less vulnerable to eye injuries due to the absence of the deeper flap seen in LASIK
The eventual visual outcomes are virtually identical to LASIK.
Major disadvantages of LASEK over LASIK are:
- There is generally more discomfort after this treatment. A contact lens is placed on the eye for 2-3 days afterwards to allow safe healing of the eye. This will also help to reduce the level of discomfort experienced. Once healing of the underlying cells has taken place the contact lens will be removed to allow the vision to start clearing more rapidly.
- Vision improvement is more gradual than after LASIK. Most patients can expect driving standard vision without glasses at the one week mark or earlier. Typically vision will be soft-focus for around 1 week and then recover rapidly over the next month. After around 2-3 months the visiual outcomes are normally as good as after LASIK.
- Eyedrops are usually required for around four weeks after surgery.
LASEK is best considered for patients:
- Who have thinner than normal corneas
- Who wear smaller prescriptions
- Who take part in contact sports due to reduced risks of eye injuries being aggravated by the presence of a LASIK type flap
- Who wish to have vision correction with the minimum amount of surgical risk should also consider LASEK over LASIK.
As with all vision correcting treatments it is never possible to offer a guarantee of achieving the desired correction and patients must be aware that there is a very small risk of complications that could reduce the level of vision.
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