LASEK vs LASIK Eye Surgery

A comparison between LASEK vs LASIK eye surgery. LASEK stands for Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusi, LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. Well that’s all fine and dandy, but what does that all mean? Both LASEK and LASIK eye surgery correct for refractive errors in farsightedness, nearsightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism. They are both outpatient procedures that take the same amount of time to perform by the surgeon, approximately fifteen minutes per eye. In both procedures, the epithelium is cut using an excimer laser. In LASIK, however, the stoma is also cut and the depth of the flap cut is thicker than in LASEK. Recovery time is longer for LASEK patients, averaging several more days for recovery and several additional weeks for complete healing and optimal vision.

If your surgeon determines you are a poor candidate for LASIK surgery and/or have thinner/flatter corneal tissue than most people, than you will most likely be given the option of LASEK eye surgery. Because LASEK surgery does not cut into the stroma, there are typically no complications of the stromal flaps as in LASIK. The procedure also retains more corneal tissue than LASIK. However, LASEK surgery typically is more uncomfortable and takes more time to heal.

Both procedures have their own benefits as well as drawbacks and/or risks. Your surgeon should go over all of these during your initial consultation. You, as a potential patient, will also go through extensive screening to determine which, if either, laser eye surgery is best for you. Some of the direct benefits from LASIK include immediate clear vision which typically will be measured at 20/20. With LASEK, there usually are less problems with corneal haze and less risk of dry eye as in LASIK.

LASEK is a newer procedure so the history of results is not as extensive as that of LASIK. Why does that matter? Basically, any risks and complications may not be as well known as LASIK. Just something to keep in mind. Be sure that if you do decide to get LASEK, that you have the procedure done by a laser eye surgeon that has done the procedure many times and has a good reputation.

More information about LASEK vs LASIK.