Laser Procedures - LASIK, LASEK & PRK

Laser vision correction, or laser eye surgery, is a surgical treatment for people who want to reduce their dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

There are a number of different procedures that can be used to achieve this, with LASIK being the most popular.

 

LASIK

LASIK  has become the most popular form of laser vision treatment. LASIK involves creating a very thin flap of corneal tissue using a keratome. This flap is then folded back to expose the corneal bed, the laser is then applied to reshape the corneal bed, the flap is then re-positioned. Due to the pressure difference in the eye and the atmosphere the flap does not require stiches and heals within a few weeks.

 

LASIK is a remarkable procedure requiring only local anaesthetic. The LASIK procedure takes less then 15 minutes to perform and most people return to work two days following the procedure.

 

LASEK

LASEK is a similar procedure to LASIK, however there is no corneal flap created. LASEK uses the thin outer most layer of the cornea to act instead of a corneal flap. This thin layer, called the epithelium, is loosened using an alcohol solution and then gently removed but retained. The laser is then used to reshape the corneal surface and then the thin layer is replaced and smoothed back into place.

 

A contact lens is then placed on the eye to assist in the healing of the surface layer. Generally the healing time of the LASEK procedure is a few days longer but the long term results have been proven to be the same.

 

PRK

Although PRK is an older style procedure compared to LASIK and LASEK, it still has a place in the treatment of refractive errors. In a PRK treatment the thin epithelial layer rather than being retained is removed and the laser used to reshape the corneal surface. A contact lens this then placed on the eye to assist in the healing and to make the eye more comfortable in the first 12 to 24 hours.

 

 

At Central Sydney Eye Surgeons the initial consultation is obligation free, so why wait to see if you are suitable? Click here to book a consultation now.