One Type of Corrective Eye Surgery
There are many different types of corrective eye surgery. These types of surgeries can be done at a nearby clinic and are designed to correct your vision. You've heard of Lasik surgery, but there is another eye surgery called Lasek surgery out there. Patients who are not qualified for the Lasik surgery may qualify for Lasek surgery. This type of surgery is done by cutting the outer layer of the cornea. Not as much of the cornea is removed and therefore, recovery may take longer. It may take up to two weeks to heal.. Check with your surgeon to see what type of corrective eye surgery you qualify for.
While Lasik is the most popular type of corrective eye surgery, it is not the
only one being performed. While all of the following types of corrective eye
surgeries are laser surgeries, they each differ slightly and it may be that
slight difference that will determine the success of your surgery.
LASEK
Similar to Lasik, it's often performed on people with thin corneas who would
make poor candidates for Lasik eye surgery. With Lasek eye surgery, only the
outer layer of the cornea is cut, therefore not as much of the cornea is
removed. Since alcohol is used to loosen the flap, the risk to the cornea is not
as great. It is a newer corrective eye surgery and is used to treat astigmatism,
nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Longer healing times have been experienced with Lasek. Although a blade is used
with Lasek, it is a finer blade than the microkeratome that is used with Lasik.
While patients who have Lasik eye surgery often see well the day after surgery,
Lasek patients may take up to two weeks to see well again. The longer recovery
time is probably the biggest drawback to Lasek eye surgery as patients have to
take more time off from work.
Epi-LASIK
No blade or alcohol is used to cut through the cornea, instead a plastic
separator is used to separate the epithelial sheet from the eye. The same
excimer laser used in Lasik is used in Epi-Lasik to reshape the corneal tissue.
After this corrective eye surgery, a special contact lens is used to keep the
epithelial flap in place until it reattaches itself. People can usually see well
enough to drive after about a week however, it may take up to six months to see
the final results.
Bladeless LASIK
Also very similar to regular Lasik eye surgery, except that no blade is used to
create the flap. Instead another laser is used. IntraLase, the technology used
to create the flap may be safer than regular Lasik eye surgery which uses a
bladed instrument to create the flap. Although complications are relatively
rare, an oscillating blade presents more opportunity for an accident to occur.
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
With PRK corrective eye surgery, no flap is made in the cornea at all. Instead,
the surgeon skips right to the next step and uses an excimer laser to reshape
the cornea. If you're nearsighted, the surgeon will attempt to flatten the
cornea, which is too steep. If you're farsighted, the surgeon will attempt to
make the cornea steeper.
When considering laser eye surgery, get all the facts before you make an
informed decision. Although the success rates for these types of surgeries are
impressive, no corrective eye surgery is one hundred percent safe or successful.
More Corrective Eye Surgery Information
