LASEK vs LASIK

LASEK Surgery or laser epithelial keratomileusis is an alternative to LASIK surgery and a cousin of PRK. LASEK combines elements of both surgeries and can be used for patients with astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness.

Candidates for LASEK

Because the procedure is for people with thinner corneas, the main difference in candidacy is thin corneas. This procedure can be applied for all the same people using LASIK surgery.

For LASIK candidacy, see LASIK Candidacy

Pre-Op LASEK

There are no discernible differences between LASEK and LASIK for pre-op. If you wear contacts you should remove them days or weeks (depending on the contact lens) prior to the procedure. You should remove all makeup a few days earlier, too. And make sure to secure a driver to take you to and from the procedure.

LASEK Surgery – The procedure

During LASEK surgery, a trephine, a finer blade and a 20-percent alcohol solution are used to create the flap. This helps to prevent many of the potential complications that come along with cutting and possibly reattaching the flap.
The exposed tissue is treated using an excimer laser to sculpt the cornea.

LASEK Surgery – Post-Op

Two things to expect in post-op that are different than LASIK surgery: Moderate discomfort and the addition of a protective contact lens to your eyewear collection for up to a week. This may affect driving immediately after surgery.

As far as final results, patients of LASIK and LASEK can expect similar results, though preliminary studies give a slight edge to LASEK surgery when it comes down to measuring the vision of like patients.

LASEK Advantages to Standard LASIK

• LASEK surgery is often performed on people with thinner corneas (too thin for the thick flap cut by LASIK‚Äôs microkeratome).
• The patient‚Äôs cornea isn‚Äôt weakened.
• No threat to the flap (the flap from LASIK can remain an issue for many years).
• LASEK surgery causes fewer occurrences of dry eye.

LASEK Surgery Disadvantages to Standard LASIK

• Some pain or discomfort after surgery ‚Äì It shouldn‚Äôt be severe, but the pain is likely to last a couple days.
• Longer vision recovery time ‚Äì expect a couple weeks before full vision recovers.
• Protective contact lens will be needed for up to a week so that the surface of your eye can heal correctly.
• Longer use of topical drops ‚Äì it could be three or four weeks before you can ditch the drops.

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