|
Most people who have undergone laser eye surgery simply say that they "got LASIK." In reality, however, only some of them received LASIK treatment. Others received a different form of laser eye surgery, such as LASEK, Epi-LASIK or PRK. All of these surgeries are designed to help patients achieve clear vision without corrective lenses. However, each procedure achieves this result in a slightly different manner. Read on to discover the similarities and differences between the four main types of laser eye surgery. LASIK. LASIK stands for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. LASIK eye surgery consists of three steps. During the first step, the surgeon prepares the eye by applying eyelid retainers and anesthetizing eye drops. During the second step, the surgeon creates a small flap in the clear part of the eye (the cornea). The surgeon uses a mechanical instrument (a microkeratome) or a special laser to create the flap. During the third step, the surgeon lifts the flap out of the way and applies excimer laser energy to the underlying eye tissues. The flap is then replaced, and the procedure is finished. The patient usually notices a significant vision improvement the very next day, and the full post-surgical vision is achieved within one week after the treatment. LASEK. LASEK differs from LASIK only during the second step of the procedure. During LASEK, the surgeon does not create a corneal flap. Instead, the surgeon creates a much thinner flap in the eye's epithelium (the outermost layer of the eye's cells). The surgeon also uses a different instrument (a trephine) to create the epithelial flap. Once the flap is cut, an alcohol solution is applied to the eye to loosen the flap. The flap is then gently lifted. From this point on, the LASEK procedure is very similar to LASIK. The surgeon applies the excimer laser energy to the eye, and then replaces the epithelial flap into its original position. Epi-LASIK. The Epi-LASIK procedure is similar to LASEK in that the flap is created in the eye's epithelium, not the cornea. The main differences between the two procedures involve the instruments used to create the flap and the application of the alcohol solution. During Epi-LASIK, the surgeon uses a blunt plastic blade instead of LASEK's trephine to create the flap. In addition, no alcohol solution is applied to the eye during Epi-LASIK. Once the epithelial flap is created and lifted, the Epi-LASIK procedure proceeds similarly to LASIK and LASEK. PRK. PRK is often referred to as the "original laser eye surgery." This is because PRK was performed well before LASIK, LASEK and Epi-LASIK came into existence. PRK is unique among laser eye surgery procedures in that it does not involve the creation of any type of flap. Instead, part of the epithelium is removed but is not replaced following surgery. While this approach might result in a longer healing time, many eye surgeons believe that PRK is better because it eliminates the risk of any flap-related complications. Am I a Candidate for LASIK? If you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, ask your ophthalmologist whether laser eye surgery is for you. Your ophthalmologist will likely refer you to an experienced refractive eye surgeon who will determine whether you are a LASIK candidate. In addition, the eye surgeon will answer questions such as, What happens during LASIK? What are the possible risks and complications? and How much does LASIK cost? A Los Angeles, Dallas or New York City laser eye surgery provider can supply you with more information about LASEK, Epi-LASIK, PRK and LASIK eye surgery.
Related Articles -
LASIK, Laser Eye Surgery,
| 
