Type of Surgery
Information

Last updated: 11/24/2009
LASEK or laser assisted subepithelial keratectomy (keratomileusis) is a surgery that corrects refractive errors of the eye, namely farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. In general, LASEK eye surgery is reserved for patients that cannot otherwise receive LASIK surgery (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis). As opposed to LASIK, LASEK can be performed on patients with thin corneas or in whom the risk of LASIK-related injury is too great. LASEK is considered a surface ablative procedure, a procedure that can be thought of as a combination of LASIK and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy).
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This video shows how vision is dependent on light entering the front of the eye and focusing on the retina at the back of the eye. When this focus cannot be accomplished by the eye muscles or lens of the eye, it results in nearsightedness or farsightedness. Sometimes changes in the cornea can correct these errors of refraction.
Other Information
Approximately 56% of all patients achieve results of 20/20 or better and over 90% achieve 20/40 or better (which is good enough to drive without corrective lenses in most regions).1 Those with moderate to high myopia (greater than 7 diopters) have a lesser chance of achieving that result. As technique and technology improve, the results continue to improve.
From: Eye Surgery Education Council
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