Gulf South Eye Associates - Ophthalmology Specialists, Metairie, LA :: Offering eye care, cataract and glaucoma treatment, LASIK, eye glasses and contact lenses, eye doctor Metairie LA


	LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis) is a refractive procedure that is a variation of PRK and LASIK. There are several types of patients that can benefit from LASEK such as those who otherwise may not be considered a good refractive procedure candidate. LASEK is ideal for patients who are not candidates for LASIK because of thin corneal measurements, which are obtained during the preoperative exam. LASEK differs from PRK and LASIK, in that during LASEK your surgeon removes the epithelium or the outer layer of the cornea using an alcohol solution (one part alcohol and four parts sterile water). The solution basically loosens the edges of the epithelium. This solution remains on the corneal surface for approximately 30 - 45 seconds. Your eye is then irrigated with sterile water, and your surgeon then uses a surgical instrument to lift the edge of the epithelial layer and gently fold it back so that the deeper levels of the corneal bed is exposed. At this point in the procedure your surgeon then employs the Excimer Laser to scuplt the deeper levels of the cornea, much like the PRK and LASIK. After the laser portion of the procedure your surgeon replaces the epithelium using a surgical spatula. LASEK was developed to reduce the chance of complications that occur from creating a thin flap during the LASIK procedure. The recovery from LASEK is slightly longer than it is for LASIK, but has a more rapid recovery time than PRK. In order to determine if you are a LASEK candidate or if you can benefit from LASEK, certain exams will need to be performed by your surgeon such as the ones listed in the steps to LASEK. LASEK is intended to help patients minimize their dependency on glasses or contact lenses but cannot guarantee that you won't need glasses after the procedure or at some time in the future for certain tasks. Our office statistics indicate that approximately 90% of our LASEK patients are able to pass a driver's license vision test without the help of glasses or contact lenses. LASEK will not prevent any part of the natural aging process such as cataracts, the natural clouding of the lens on the inside of your eye and Presbyopia, which is the loss of the eye's natural ability to accommodate or read without the help of reading glasses or bifocals after the age of 40. You can discuss with your surgeon the possibility of a modified LASEK treatment to help decrease the need for reading glasses. As with any surgery there are certain risks involved and no guarantees of the exact outcome. We recommend that you educate yourself on the pros and cons of LASEK before you make any decisions about having an elective surgery. Click here for a complimentary consultation visit or FDA's page about the LASEK procedure.

  Who is a candidate?
  Steps to having LASEK
  Day of your LASEK
  After your LASEK