LASIK vs. LASEK

There are many options when it comes to laser eye surgery, including LASIK and LASEK procedures. Both LASIK and LASEK surgery reshape the cornea in order to correct its shape, which in turn fixes your vision. Both are also generally thought to be equally effective for people with astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia. Although they may sound alike and can essentially accomplish the same goal, however, these procedures vary in important ways.

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis)

LASIK surgery creates a flap in the cornea of the eye. From there, laser pulses are focused on the stroma (inner part of the Cornea) to reshape it. The flap is then replaced and healing takes place over the course of a few days with little to no pain in many cases. LASIK is ideal for candidates who have ample corneal tissue and no pre-existing eye infections, injuries or autoimmune diseases. It is highly effective in producing 20/20 vision or better and presents much less discomfort than LASEK surgery in most cases.

LASEK (Laser-Assisted SubEpithelial Keratectomy)

LASEK surgery reshapes the cornea without the creation of a flap. This procedure avoids the deeper cut of traditional LASIK. This means that LASEK is better for people who are poor LASIK candidates because of less corneal tissue or other cornea problems. It also avoids flap related complications, lowers the risk of dry eye conditions post-surgery and modifies significantly less corneal tissue compared with LASIK. The recovery time however, is longer with LASEK, a small price to pay for the increased safety.

Important Differences Between LASIK and LASEK

LASEK surgery typically requires extended recovery time when compared to LASIK surgery. Recovery can also be more painful after surgery. When performed on people with thin corneas, though, LASIK can produce less than ideal results, so LASEK often presents a superior option. Only your surgeon can help you determine which laser vision correction procedure is best for you. The most important factor to consider is choosing the right surgeon who has performed thousands of both of these surgeries over several years to ensure a desirable result.

Stop By For a Consultation

At The Fifth Avenue Eye Center, we encourage those interested in LASIK and LASEK procedures in New York to set up a free consultation with our renowned surgeon, Dr. Ilan Cohen. Dr. Cohen will explain your options to you in a comprehensive and easy to understand way so that you can make an educated decision about your eye care. While some doctors will push either LASIK or LASEK surgery on you for financial gain, we allow you to make your own decision based on your needs alone. We will not try to up sell you into more expensive procedures that are unnecessary and will only recommend the LASIK or LASEK surgery that we feel is appropriate in your individual case. We also offer you other non-laser options if that is deemed beneficial in your individual case.