LASIK eye surgery gives many people the opportunity to stop wearing contact lenses or glasses. For some individuals, however, this procedure is not the best solution. While traditional LASIK works by making a small cut on the eye, peeling back that layer and then using a laser to reshape the cornea, this surgery is sometimes not right due to various characteristics of the eyes. So what can these people do in order to correct their vision? Fortunately, a new procedure known as LASEK has emerged to help people improve their eyesight even if they don't qualify for traditional laser surgery.

Traditional LASIK Surgery

LASIK, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, was introduced in the 1990s to replace older eye surgery techniques. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a cut on the eye. The small flap is then folded down and a special laser is used to reshape the cornea of the eye. Once the procedure is complete, the flap is folded back into place.

This surgery has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed today, with more than one million Americans undergoing LASIK each year. However, the procedure is not right for every patient. Conditions such as dry eyes, chronic eye infections and autoimmune diseases can make a person ineligible for the procedure. Fortunately, another type of surgery known as LASEK has been developed to help some of these patients.

What is LASEK?

When the shape or condition of the eyes makes LASIK impossible, a slightly different laser surgery known as LASEK, or Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis, offers hope. Doctors first place a special solution to the outer surface of the eye. Next, the epithelium is cut with a very find blade called a trephine, allowing the doctor to then reshape the corneas with the laser. The epithelium can then be gently slid back into the correct position.

The Benefits of LASEK

What are some of the potential advantages of the LASEK procedure? The greatest benefit is that it allows people who might have previously been ineligible for laser eye surgery to have their vision corrected. Other significant advantages include the remarkable speed of the procedure as well as faster healing time.

How can a patient determine which type of laser eye surgery is the right choice? According to a study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, "Both procedures seem safe, effective, and predictable for the treatment of low to moderate near-sightedness (myopia)." Another study published in Optometry Today even suggested that LASEK may in fact be even better than LASIK. However, all patients should rely on the guidance, expertise and recommendations of a qualified surgeon when making a decision.