You’ve opted for LASEK eye surgery over the alternatives: LASEK is a better fit for certain patients, such as those with a history of dry eye, thin corneas, or who play contact sports. Unlike the LASIK procedure, there’s no flap cut into the cornea to enable vision correction.
At Advanced Lasik, Dr. Randa Garrana and our team offer all the major laser vision correction procedures. When you choose to have LASEK, you probably wonder what you can expect after your surgery. Here, we discuss the ins and outs of LASEK, including how it works to correct vision and what the recovery process is like.
The biggest difference between LASEK and LASIK is the way we access corneal tissue for reshaping. LASIK involves cutting a flap of tissue that’s pulled back and replaced following laser reshaping.
Some patients with steep or thin corneas are ruled out as LASIK candidates because their eyes aren’t physically able to endure a flap incision. In other cases, intensive sports participation or jobs with heavy physical exertion can rule out patients because of the risk these activities carry for the flap recovery process.
LASEK is better suited for these patients because there’s no need to cut a flap. Instead, we separate the epithelial (surface) tissue of the cornea and move it aside. After reshaping the cornea with the laser, Dr. Garrana carefully repositions the epithelial tissue.
To hold the corneal surface in place after your procedure, we use a special contact lens that works like a bandage. We’ll remove this contact at one of your follow-up visits.
Your vision will stabilize within a week, and the majority of healing is also complete by this time. The healing of the epithelial layer and the presence of the contact lens may combine to cause some discomfort or irritation in the first day or two.
Typically, the epithelium heals within 24 hours, although you can expect the contact to stay in place for about four days. It’s important to avoid touching your eyes during the first few days after your LASEK procedure to avoid dislodging or shifting the contact and corneal tissue.
With most laser vision correction procedures, it’s normal to have temporary vision issues for up to six months after your surgery. With LASEK, you may notice hazy vision at some points, either corneal or stromal haze. These issues typically resolve on their own.
It’s also possible to sense your vision changing for the better in the weeks following your procedure. We’ll follow up with you over the coming months to monitor your progress.
Do you have questions about LASEK or other laser vision correction procedures? We have answers. Call or click online to schedule an appointment at your nearest Advanced Lasik office in the Midtown East section of New York City, or Long Beach, California, today.
