lasik los angeles

Other Refractive Procedures

Advanced Surface Ablation – also known as PRK or “Flapless LASIK” – is a new marketing term for an old procedure known as Photorefractive Keratectomy. PRK was the precursor to lasik and is still used for certain patients when LASIK may not be the ideal choice for laser vision correction. Simply put, it is lasik without creation of a corneal flap. The excimer laser is used to apply laser treatment directly to the surface of the eye. Although the final visual results are comparable, when compared to LASIK, PRK can be uncomfortable and it often takes much longer to achieve the desired visual result. Whereas LASIK can often produce clear vision within hours, PRK may take several days or even weeks to recover clear vision. Due to the rapid visual recovery and the markedly improved comfort, Lasik has become far and away the treatment of choice for most patients and refractive surgeons alike.

LASEK – LASEK is similar to PRK. It stands for Laser Assisted Epithelial Keratomileusis. In this procedure, the outermost layer of cells on the corneal surface is gently loosened with the help of a topical application of a 20% alcohol solution. These cells form a sheet that can then be lifted and slid to the side of the cornea, exposing the underlying corneal stroma for laser application. Upon completion of the laser application, this sheet can be repositioned over the corneal stroma. A contact lens is then applied to hold this sheet in place. The advantages of Lasek over PRK are still a topic of controversy although some refractive surgeons believe it provides improved comfort versus PRK and may shorten recovery time.

RK – Before the advent of the excimer laser, RK or Radial Keratotomy was commonly performed as a means to correct low amounts of myopia or nearsightedness. In this procedure, a sharp blade was used to create radial incisions in the cornea, much like the spokes of a wheel. The incisions were carried to a depth of 90% of the corneal thickness. These incisions weakened the integrity of the peripheral cornea relative to the central cornea. The net result was a peripheral bulging of the cornea and a subsequent central flattening, thus reducing or eliminating one’s myopia. A good procedure for its time, it is rarely performed today due to the relative lack of predictability and stability when compared to excimer laser vision correction (i.e. LASIK and PRK).

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