Which is safer lasik or lasek

Essentially, laser eye surgery refers to the process of reshaping the clear layer of your eye known as the cornea with a concentrated beam of light known as a laser. There are two laser eye treatment methods: Lasik and Lasek.

The main difference between them is how your cornea is opened to allow the laser through. Believe it or not, the treatment is considered so effective that NASA has even approved it for use on their astronauts. During LASIK treatment, the first laser will create a very thin protective flap on the clear layer of your eye your cornea. This protective flap will then be lifted, and the second laser will then be used to correct your vision.

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I Accept Show Purposes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Mark R. Mandel, MD has been selected by hundreds of eye doctors and other physicians to perform LASIK, corneal transplant, and cataract surgery on themselves, their families, and their office staff. As a sub-specialist Dr.

He has been serving Bay Area patients since We are proud to offer state of the art technology for measuring the eye and performing the latest in advanced surgical techniques… always striving to achieve the best possible outcomes. Chosen by more surgeons to perform surgery on themselves and their families. Most patients select LASIK eye surgery because clarity of vision occurs quickly and healing is rapid.

The incidence of overcorrection or undercorrection, the need for enhancements touch-ups , decreased correctable visual acuity, infection, rate of complications and long-term side effects are essentially equal. They each take about 6 minutes of actual treatment time for each eye. There is no discomfort during either procedure.

Both are highly delicate microsurgical procedures that require the skill, knowledge and expertise of an experienced cornea and refractive surgeon. Discomfort is considerably less, achievement of visual acuity is faster, return to full activity is quicker, and the need for post-operative medications is greatly diminished with LASIK.

It takes up to one month for vision to become clear after PRK. This is why we recommend doing PRK on one eye at a time. LASIK — a shield is worn over the eye the first 24 hours, and then nightly for 10 nights to prevent inadvertent rubbing of the eye.

Eyedrops are begun the morning after surgery and are used for 4 days. PRK — a therapeutic soft bandage contact lens is placed in the eye at the time of surgery and is worn for approximately six days to reduce discomfort. Anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and cortisone eyedrops are used twice a day while the lens is on. After contact lens removal, the topical cortisone is used four times a day for one month, then tapered over the next one to three months.

Once this has been done, the top corneal layer can either be removed or gently moved to the side. This exposes the middle layer and the laser can be applied to it. The surgeon then places a bandage lens into the eye for protection, and to help the healing process, which is then removed at an aftercare appoint 3 to 5 days post-procedure. Most patients experience recovery within 24 to 48 hours, with lots of patients even going back to work the next day. With LASEK surgery, the recovery process is longer — between 1 and 2 weeks — as the cells that were either moved or removed to access the middle of the cornea must regrow and settle again.

This is because no flap is created and lifted in LASEK procedures — the cells are just softened and moved.