Selecting Between Lasik And Lasek Eye Surgery Hundreds of thousands of individuals every year are taking the plunge and selecting to have the life changing procedure that’s laser eye surgery.
It is presently the most popular elective surgery in the world and the number of individuals having it done is likely to increase as the procedure becomes safer and more accurate. If you yourself are considering having laser eye surgery, then you’ll almost certainly be confronted with the selection of whether to have Lasik or Lasek eye surgery (which is similar to PRK). Both Lasek and Lasik are sorts of laser eye surgery and they account for about 99 of all procedures currently being carried out. Of the 2 types, Lasik is by far the most popular accounting for about seven times more procedures than Lasek. The main difference between these 2 kinds of laser eye surgery lies in the way in which the inner part of the cornea is accessed. The cornea (outer clear part of your eye) is the part of the eye that’s to be lasered and your surgeon can’t laser directly onto the surface of your eye. He/she must lift off a thin layer of your cornea before the laser will be applied. During Lasik eye surgery, a flap is made that effectively means a thin layer of your cornea is cut and then lifted to one side. The surgeon then applies the laser that eliminates your prescription and then the flap is replaced back in exactly the same place because it was before. During the Lasek procedure, however, there’s no flap created. The surgeon simply loosens the very outer layer of your cornea (epithelium) & moves it to one side. This is loosened using an alcohol solution instead of a surgical blade. The laser is then applied (the same because it is for Lasik) and the epithelium is then smoothed back over and left to heal.
The following lists some of the other differences between the procedures: • Resulting vision: Lasik and Lasek surgery very similar visual results and they are equally probably to produce 20/20 vision. • Complications: There are more risks with Lasik than Lasek because the vast majority of complications are related to the creation and healing of the flap. There’s, in fact, no flap created during Lasek. Both procedures, however, are extremely safe and most complications are simply treatable by your surgeon. • Recovery: The recovery period for Lasik is far faster and easier than the Lasek recovery. Following Lasik, most people experience only very mild discomfort (e.g. dryness, irritable, stinging) and most people will return to work and drive 24-48 hours following surgery. Individuals can but experience quite moderate pain following Lasek surgery and it’s usually suggested to have 5-7 days off work. • Price: Most clinics charge a similar price for the two procedures. • Corneal thickness: If you have thin corneas you’ll be suggested to have Lasek eye surgery by your surgeon. Lasek will be carried out on individuals with thinner corneas when compared with Lasik. • Contact sports: If you’re involved with contact sports you’ll most likely be suggested to have Lasek because the strength of your cornea is in no way compromised following the procedure. In summary, most people prefer to have Lasik laser eye surgery as they will return to work and normal activities sooner following surgery. It’s usually only those who has been specifically suggested to have Lasek who end up having that treatment. Lasik & Lasek procedures are equally likely to give you 20/20 vision. The only real way you’ll ever know which treatment is the most suitable for you is by going to see a qualified surgeon for a laser eye surgery consultation.