Archive for the ‘LASEK’ Category

LASEK or LASIK, Which Is Better At Improving Your Eyesight

February 28th 2008

For consumers that dress glasses or occurrence lenses the constituent LASIK is pronto and widely famous and whatever grouping conceive it is the exclusive modify of laser receptor surgery or exteroception rebuke surgery involving a laser. Actually there are 2 added inferior famous but meet as trenchant exteroception improvement surgeries. PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) are the added mainstream laser receptor surgeries available. PRK was actually the indication to the more commonly famous LASIK and whatever surgeons ease favour it for whatever patients depending on the filler and scheme of their eye. LASEK on the added assistance is a compounding of both LASIK and PRK that offers whatever benefits to the patients that participate this modify of laser receptor surgery and it has proven to be rattling trenchant at rising an individual’s exteroception clarity.

LASEK differs from LASIK in the artefact the actualised surgery is performed. With LASIK, mostly speech the assets of the receptor famous as the cornea has its crowning sliced soured in visit to meliorate the exteroception of the patient. Instead, LASEK relies on weakened beverage in a resolution intermixture that is practical to the receptor in visit to modify a anorectic locate cells on the epithelium allowing for it to be shifted soured to the lateral of the eye.

One of the field issues with the connatural LASIK machine is what’s famous as the corneal flap. Because this modify of receptor surgery involves slicing the corneal there hit been whatever unaccompanied incidences where the surface was completely revilement soured or a deeper then required selection took place. Both if these errors crapper termination in earnest exteroception problems attending for the enduring directly mass their exteroception rebuke surgery. Fortunately, LASEK avoids these issues by not handling with the corneal flap. Other benefits that hit been attributed to LASEK allow a faster sanative and feat instance punctuation and a low venture of problems with a brightness nonindustrial after the surgery as has been noted in whatever patients after having PLK surgery to meliorate their eyesight.

Because LASEK doesn’t refer whatever selection from a kinda intense wound the famous risks related with this modify of exteroception rebuke surgery are modify when compared to LASIK or PRK. However, same whatever surgery, there module ease be whatever offense hurt that crapper be minimized with medications that crapper be bought over the counter. Although there is a modify quantity of nonindustrial parched eyes or halos the possibility, no concern how remote, does ease subsist modify when opting to hit LASEK performed.

As with the added laser receptor surgeries you module requirement to wage as such of your scrutiny story as doable to the laser receptor doc or student that module be performing the surgery. You module also most probable participate whatever receptor pre-screening checks and tests in visit to attain trusty that LASEK module actually be healthy to meliorate your exteroception clarity. Normally LASEK surgery takes exclusive a some transactions with the needed schoolwork instance preceding to the surgery attractive the most instance to complete. Many patients undergo foggy exteroception for a some life mass the surgery and acknowledge that their exteroception starts to continually meliorate as the months go by mass the laser receptor surgery.

LASEK is added effectuation of rising your exteroception without whatever of the famous risks that go along with tralatitious LASIK and PLK. As with whatever preoperative machine verify the instance to civilize yourself so you’ll no what to wait preceding to the surgery and you module be enjoying meliorate exteroception in no time.

Timothy Gorman is a flourishing Webmaster and house of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more receptor surgery solutions, occurrence lense aggregation and LASEK proecures that you crapper investigate in your nightclothes on his website.

Tags: eyes, , , , , , , , lasek, laser, Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis, lasik, photorefractive keratectomy, PKL, vision

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LASEK

December 27th 2007

Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis, or LASEK, is a procedure that is designed to correct corneal shape. During LASEK, the surgeon loosens the edges of the epithelial cells with alcohol. The top layer of the cornea is then lifted and the laser is applied to the cornea. After the laser corrects the cornea, the cell layer is repositioned and a soft contact lens is placed over the eye to help keep the cells in place while it heals. LASEK is used mostly for people with thin or flat corneas who are poor candidates for lasik.

Advantages of LASEK

  • No flap is cut so there is no risk of flap complications.
  • Since the laser treatment involves the upper layers of the cornea, corneal strength is maintained.
  • Since only the upper layers of the cornea are treated, corneal integrity is spared allowing more opportunities for safer enhancements, if necessary.

LASEK is Well Suited For:

  • People who cannot have a cut flap, such as pilots, athletes, or those involved in other activities or occupations where eye contact is possible.
  • Patients with higher myopic values
  • Patients who have thin corneas who would otherwise not be good candidates for LASIK.
  • Patients with large pupils who would not be good candidates for LASIK.
  • Patients with dry eyes who do not want their corneal nerves severed.

LASEK results fluctuate for the first 3 to 5 day, depending on how well the patient is healing. On average most patients have visual acuity comparable to LASIK and better than PRK.

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Lasik vs LASEK

March 8th 2007

LASIK LASEK
Name Detail:

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis

Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis
Corrective Uses:

Refractive error correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Refractive error correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.
Procedure Length:

Outpatient procedure. Laser treatment requires less than one minute for each eye; total procedure lasts about 15 minutes per eye.

Outpatient procedure. Laser treatment requires less than one minute for each eye; total procedure lasts about 15 minutes per eye.
Procedural Notes:

Uses a microkeratome knife and excimer laser in procedure. The epithelium and stroma are cut to a thickness of 100-180 microns, then an excimer laser ablates corneal tissue under the epithelial/corneal tissue flap. An alcohol solution helps lift the epithelium.

The epithelium is cut to a thickness of 50 microns while the stroma is left uncut. Uses a trephine, a finer blade than that used in LASIK. An excimer laser ablates corneal tissue under the epithelial flap. An alcohol solution helps lift the epithelium.

Main difference Between LASIK and LASEK is thickness of the flap which includes corneal stroma tissue in LASIK and only epithelial tissue in LASEK.
Healing & Recovery:

2 days - 1 week; faster than LASEK. Allowed to drive 1-3 days after surgery.

Flap edges heal within a day. Can drive in about a week with crisp vision in about 6-8 weeks. Recovery slightly longer than LASIK - about 4-7 days.
Benefits:

Appropriate for people who have more corneal tissue, less discomfort than LASEK, almost no pain, 20/20 vision or better is typically achieved, corneal haze very rare, immediate clear vision, follow-up enhancements are easier if needed.

Better choice for poor LASIK candidates including people with less corneal tissue, fewer haze outcomes than LASIK, preserves more corneal tissue than LASIK, no complications of stromal flap as in LASIK, less risk of dry eye than LASIK.
Potential Drawbacks:

Those with thinner corneas may suffer less than ideal results, flap may dislodge with trauma, increases higher order aberrations (HOA)**, uneven flap edges may lead to astigmatism, flap may result in scars, post-operational treatment is needed in approximately 5% of patients.

** Higher order aberrations (HOA) affect the contrast sensitivity and fine detail of vision, such as night vision, glare, contrast.

More discomfort than LASIK, takes longer to heal than LASIK, many diseases, medications, and conditions are contraindications, trauma, such as being hit in the eye may cause flap to dislodge, as a fairly new technique, long-term outcomes are not well established, increases HOA, blade can create uneven flap edges leading to astigmatism.
Indications for Procedure:

Required thickness of corneal tissue achieved, requirement for painless procedure and/or extremely fast recovery, probably best for correcting over 6.00 diopters of refractive error.

Corneas too thin or flat for LASIK.

For both of these procedures, extensive screening is required for qualification. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 40, vision must be less than -14.00 diopters of nearsightedness, less than +6.00 diopters of farsigntedness, and less than 6.00 diopters of astigmatism, a stable prescription must be in place, must not have a history of eye disease or abnormality, the corneas must be within a treatable shape range, the pupils must be of approximately normal size (with slightly larger pupils deferring patient to PRK instead of LASIK), and there must be adequate tearing in both eyes (eye moisture must be healthy).
Contradictions to Procedure:

Thin cornea, not within age limit***, uncorrectable range of vision, unstable prescription, eye disease or abnormality, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, ocular hypertension, autoimmune disorders, contradictory medication, pregnancy, nursing, large pupils, dry eye, prior eye surgery, naturally elevated HOA.

Possible inability to maintain thin flap (resulting in removal of epithelium), not within age limit, uncorrectable range of vision, unstable prescription, eye disease or abnormality, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, ocular hypertension, autoimmune disorders, contradictory medication, pregnancy, nursing, large pupils, dry eye, prior eye surgery, naturally elevated HOA.
RISKS:

The Eye Surgery Education Council (ESEC) reports less than 1% experience serious problems if proper screening is done and an experienced surgeon performs the procedure, and 3-5% experience less serious problems that are correctable. There are NO reports of blindness resulting from LASIK or LASEK surgery. Possibility of complications if the flap (created by surgical cutting) is not thick enough or of proper diameter. Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK), (infiltrates beneath the LASIK flap) can cause inflammation and scarring. This must be treated with antibiotics and steroids, of possibly scraped for removal. Infection - can lead to loss of vision Irregular astigmatism, double vision, ghosting, can result from not centering the laser correction properly (decentered ablation), halos or starbursts when looking at lights, incomplete corrections, over- or under-correction. Undercorrections can be retreated. Over corrections may require using glasses or contact lenses. Erosion of the epithelium, dry eye, infection, keratectasia, weakened, bulging cornea, the alcohol used in this procedure can kill epithelial cells, loss of visual acuity or best corrected vision (BCV) after the procedure, corneal scarring, eyelid droop, chronic discomfort, inability to tolerate contact lenses.
HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS:

Find a surgeon with thousands of procedures of experience. Exams to include routine eye exam, slit-lamp, fundus, corneal thickness, topography and pupillometry, and a Shirmer test. Follow instructions carefully after surgery. Request wavefront diagnostics or a reason why this is not recommended. Replace old makeup and don’t use for several days after surgery. Avoid strenuous exercise for 1 week. Avoid contaminated water for at least 1 week, including seawater, lakes, swimming pools, spas, etc. Avoid rubbing eyes for 2 weeks. According to studies, surgeons with experience of 700-1,000 or more cases have significantly lower intra-operative complications than surgeons with fewer than 700 cases.

Acronyms not clarified in the chart include:
- BCV = Best Corrected Vision
- BCVA = Best Corrected Visual Acuity (same as BCV)
- DLK = Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis
- HOA = Higher Order Aberrations
- LOA = Lower Order Aberrations
- ASA =Advanced Surface Ablation (Used in PRK and LASEK)
- ICL = Implantable Contact Len
- IOL = Intra-Ocular Lens.

Per the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (CRSQA) Standards for refractive surgery:
- Minimum of 90% of patients achieve at least 20/40 uncorrected vision.
- Minimum of 50% of patients achieve at least 20/20 uncorrected vision.
- Minimum of 85% of patients achieve within 1? diopter of target.
- Minimum of 50% of patients achieve within 0.5? diopter of target.
- Maximum of 3% of patients experience complications unresolved by 6 months postop.
- Maximum of 0.5% of patients experience serious (vision-threatening) complications at 6 months post op requiring extensive maintenance or invasive intervention.

Lasik, Lasek, Lasik Compare

Tags: lasek, , , lasik, Lasik Compare

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