An Introduction to LASEK Eye Surgery - Basic Vision Care Info

LASEK eye surgery is similar to LASIK and PRK eye surgeries. The outer surface of the eye is an extremely thin layer called the epithelium. It covers the cornea.

What makes LASEK different from LASIK?

During LASIK surgery, the eye surgeon cuts a thin flap in the cornea, moves the flap out of the way, reshapes the cornea underneath the flap, and replaces the flap.

During a PRK procedure, the eye surgeon removes the epithelium completely and then reshapes the cornea. The epithelium grows back after the surgery.

During a LASEK procedure, the eye surgeon loosens the epithelium, cuts an extremely thin flap that includes only the epithelium, lifts it from the eye, reshapes the cornea underneath, and then replaces the epithelium.

After a LASEK or PRK surgery, you wear a contact lens that acts as a bandage for about three or four days.

Who should consider LASEK eye surgery?

For you to have LASIK eye surgery, your cornea can’t be too thin or too steep. If your cornea happens to be too thin or too steep, an eye surgeon may suggest LASEK surgery instead. A surgeon might also recommend it if you suffer from dry eye; dry eye is one of the possible side effects of LASIK surgery, but is less of a factor for LASEK.

LASEK eye surgery requires extra skill on the part of the lasik eye surgeon because the epithelium flap is so delicate. As a result, you need to be particularly sure that you select a surgeon who is both skilled and experienced.

What about pain?

Sometimes people worry about LASEK because they’ve heard that it hurts. During the procedure itself, your eye will be numbed and it won’t hurt at all. After surgery, the discomfort is not substantial, and you can get relief.

What else should I consider?

If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, you should consider LASEK and PRK eye surgery. They are both slightly more uncomfortable than LASIK eye surgery, they both require more time to heal after the surgery, and it takes a little longer (one or two weeks) for your vision to improve substantially.

Surgeons do not agree about which procedure is more effective. The advantage for both procedures, however, is that they make vision correction available to people who would otherwise be unable to have any vision correction at all.

For more information on LASEK eye surgery and lasik surgery, contact our Long Island vision correction center.