LASIK versus LASEK
Every year millions of Americans undergo laser refractive surgery. The two most commonly performed procedures are LASIK and LASEK. These are acronyms for some outrageously complicated medical terms. Just to satisfy your curiosity, the 'K' stands for keratomileusis!LASIK requires a surgical incision to create a flap of clear cornea underneath which the laser energy is applied. That flap never really heals -- it can always be dislodged or lost...yikes!
LASEK only lifts the superficial corneal epithelium and heals permanently within days.
Technical differences, but are the outcomes similar?
Surgeons from the University of Illinois at Chicago reviewed 122 pairs of patients. They were matched by age, refractive error and many other criteria. These folks all had less than 8 diopters of myopia.
After all of the patients recovered from their surgery it was determined that both techniques were safe and effective. Six months later the postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was similar in both groups as was the rare incidence of complications.
Given that these operations are felt to be equivalent, the authors of the study acknowledge that LASEK offers the additional advantage of no flap-related complications as occurs with LASIK.
Thinking about laser refractive surgery? Ask your eye surgeon with which procedure she feels more comfortable and more experienced. Because this is elective surgery you do not want to be someone else's guinea pig, right?
SOURCE: American Journal of Ophthalmology, Dec 2006
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Technorati Tags: LASEK, LASIK, eye surgery
Labels: eye surgery, LASEK, LASIK
4 Comments:
hi i had a cornea transplant back in 2002 and now my doctor tell me that the deseas is worse that there is nothing more he could do for my eyes i have keracotonus no seergury and no glasess could help me what should i do i have apply for social security since i have this condition and i have been denided i'm so despress most of the time no one will hire me for a job please help thanks.
Are you still able to drive? If so how do feel driving at night? I currently have the same situation and find it very difficult to drive at night or bad weather. Were you given a reason why you were denied for social security since that is a very serious disease. Hope you are doing better.
i have koreacotonus as well and have also been denied social security because of my legal status im down to my last pair of hard contact lenses after this i wont know what to do to support my familly i wish some one could give me some advice my name is jose
Don't quit when you are denied for social security the first time. Write your congressman for help with your claim.
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