LASIK and LASEK are two different surgical options that can treat refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If you have till date thought that both the procedures are same, with just a difference in the spelling, used differently by different people, or if you have yet not known the difference between the two, this blog will help you understand not just the differences, but also the similarities, and the advantages of one over the other.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is one of the most common surgeries performed to treat refractive errors of patients all over the world. It is also the fastest surgery that requires the patient to only devote 10-15 minutes of their time to have their refractive error treated! However, the care to be taken after the surgery needs some time for the eyes to recover better.
Though, not every patient is the right candidate for LASIK. This is why comprehensive analysis of the eye is done to determine if LASIK surgery is the right option for the patient or not. If it does, the patient is required to come to the hospital on the day of the surgery a while before the surgery time. Drops are instilled to comfort the eyes and make them numb. Then, the patient is made to lie down on a bed with eyes open. A metal instrument is inserted into the eyes to help keep the eyes open during the surgery time. Then, with the help of a femtosecond laser, the surgeon will form a flap on the corneal surface, which is then lifted to get access to the cornea. With the help of an excimer laser, the surgeon then ablates a small number of corneal tissues to reshape the cornea, which helps to focus the light right on the retina to bring clear vision.
Remember, the surgery involves modifications done to the eye, which is one of the most vital organs of your body. So, whenever you are planning to undergo the procedure, make sure to have it done by the best Lasik specialist in Mumbai, one like Arohi Eye Hospital, that has the perfectly experienced surgeons to perform the task.
What is LASEK?
LASEK has been in existence since 1996, which combines the procedures of LASIK and Photorefractive Keratectomy to avoid all kinds of possible complications. LASEK also uses excimer laser to reshape the cornea, but during this procedure, a partial incision is done on the edges of the cornea with the help of a trephine blade. Then, sterile ethanol solution is used to detach the epithelium from one side then, excimer laser is used for ablation, after which the corneal flap is repositioned to its original position. A bandage contact lens is placed on the eyes for a few days after the surgery to help the cornea heal.
LASIK or LASEK – Which is better?
While we aren’t the ones who can tell you which procedure is better over the other, as every individual needs to have a personalized examination done by a specialist to determine the right kind of treatment, but we can definitely let you know the advantages of one procedure over the other.
- LASIK is a well-recognized, trusted, and safe procedure that has been used since years to treat refractive errors. It is a quick, painless surgery that requires no incisions and no needles. Also, the results are seen just within a few hours of the surgery, which can last a lifetime. Although mild irritation may be experienced, it goes away with time.
- LASEK is more advanced than LASIK with lesser complication possibilities. However, there is an incision involved, and thus, eye bandage and frequent artificial tears are involved after the surgery. This also requires more recovery time than LASIK, which means clear vision restored only after 3-4 days.
You can see how both LASIK and LASEK are effective, but both have different procedures, different recoveries, and different pros and cons. So, we can’t say that one procedure is better over the other, as both bring effective results. However, what you need to analyze is that which surgery is better for your particular condition; and for that, you need to undergo certain examinations and tests by an eye specialist.
Dr. Shradha Goel
Dr. Shradha Goel, Chief Surgeon at Arohi Eye Hospital, is a renowned Phaco-LASIK surgeon with over 10,000 surgeries to her credit. She earned her MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and a Master’s in Ophthalmology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. As a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Goel specialises in LASIK, refractive errors, and cataract treatments.