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LASEK is essentially a hybrid of PRK and LASIK. The difference between LASIK and PRK is that with LASIK a corneal flap is created and the laser is applied to the inner tissue of the cornea. With PRK, the first procedure ever to use an excimer laser, the outer layer of the cornea is removed and the laser is applied to the surface of the cornea.
With LASEK, a surface flap is loosened with a diluted alcohol solution and moved aside so the doctor can surgically “sculpt” a small part of the cornea with an excimer laser to correct refractive error. It is an excellent choice for individuals who are moderately to severely nearsighted and have thin or flat corneas that make LASIK less safe for doctors to perform.
While only a small percentage of the population has corneas that are too thin or flat for LASIK, LASEK is an exciting option for farsighted people whose previous only alternative was glasses or contact lenses. In addition, individuals who participate in contact sports may select LASEK over LASIK to avoid post-procedure flap complications as a result of impact to their eyes. |
