A Guide to LASEK Eye Surgery

LASEK surgery is a form of laser eye surgery that corrects refractive errors by reshaping the cornea – to this day, thousands of people the world over have benefited from this revolutionary procedure. LASEK eye surgery is performed on patients whose corneas are either too thin or too flat for LASIK eye surgery, but both procedures offer the same results in vastly improved vision and negate the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Who Can Benefit From LASEK Eye Surgery?

Patients who suffer from refractive errors will be delighted to learn that LASEK eye surgery can once and for all allow them to live life with more freedom and no longer rely on corrective eyewear.

LASEK eye surgery can be used to treat the following refractive errors:

• Short-sightedness (myopia) – This eye condition results from the cornea being slightly rounder and shorter than it should be. Due to this, the light that enters the eye converges just in front of the retina, meaning that suffers experience difficulty when trying to see a clear image at a distance. Through LASEK eye surgery, the shape of the cornea is corrected and the light is made to focus precisely on the retina – meaning that the blurred images at a distance will become a thing of the past, eliminating the effects of short-sightedness!
• Long-sightedness (hyperopia) – Patients who suffer from hyperopia have a cornea that is slightly flatter and shorter than it should be. This results in a blurred image because the light that enters the eye focuses on a point just behind the retina. Most people who suffer from this refractive error rely on glasses on contact lenses, but through LASEK eye surgery, the effects of hyperopia can be permanently corrected. That means no more headaches and straining eyes to get objects – both near and far – into focus.
• Astigmatism – In this case, the cornea is a more conical shape than it should be – this means that light enters at different angles through this cone. This creates two points of focus and ultimately a blurred image. Although this condition is slightly more complex than myopia or hyperopia, using the right technology, virtually all astigmatism symptoms can be treated through LASEK eye surgery.

What Does the LASEK Procedure Involve?

A patient is deemed an appropriate candidate for LASEK eye surgery when they suffer from one of the above mentioned refractive errors and usually because their cornea is not thick enough to withstand LASIK eye surgery. During the LASEK procedure, an ophthalmic surgeon focuses of the preservation of the corneal epithelium. In this way, the procedure differs from both LASIK and as the surgeon does not create a corneal flap or scrape and remove the epithelium.

LASEK treats the epithelium with a diluted alcohol solution which loosens it; the surgeon then rolls the epithelium tissue back and works with a laser to reshape the exposed corneal tissue beneath. The surgeon then simply smoothly rolls back the epithelium cells in their new reshaped position.

What Happens After Laser Eye Surgery?

Recovery time from LASEK eye surgery tends to take slightly longer than that of LASIK, but in the hands of expert surgeons, the visual outcomes are the same. Patients experience vast vision improvement with maximum convenience.

Post-treatment, patients are usually prescribed medicated eye drops which aid the healing process and relieve any temporary discomfort during this time. For about the first week, patients are given a night shield to wear when sleeping, which prevents any accidental rubbing of the eyes. In some cases, patients are fitted with soft contact lenses to give further protection to the healing eyes.

Patients who undergo LASEK eye surgery will find they have a newfound freedom as they no longer have to rely on glasses or the deal with the hassles of contact lenses or spectacles. Due to their vast visual improvement, many patients say that their self-esteem is boosted, along with their confidence!

The London Vision Clinic is leading laser eye surgery clinic in the UK, boasting world-class ophthalmic surgeons who expertly perform LASIK and LASEK eye surgery. If you suffer from a refractive error and are considering LASEK eye surgery, contact one of the Patient Education Consultants at the London Vision Clinic today to set up a screening to determine your suitability for the procedure.

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