What’s the difference between LASIK and LASEK?

What are the different types of laser eye surgery?

This is a very common question we get from our patients. Often, people visit us because they want laser eye surgery, but they don’t know that there is more than one type available. We offer two types of laser eye surgery at Optimax: LASIK and LASEK. Both of these treatments provide outstanding results but their differences mean that while some people might be unsuitable for LASIK, LASEK remains a very good option for them.

Ultimately, LASIK and LASEK differ in the way that the top corneal layer is removed. To put it simply, in all laser eye surgery procedures, the laser is applied to the middle layer of your cornea. This means that the outermost layer of the cornea needs to be lifted so that the part underneath can be accessed to be lasered.

In LASIK procedures, a laser is used to create C-shaped incision in the top layer of your cornea. This is a flap which can be lifted up, before a second laser is applied to the middle layer of the cornea. After this, the flap is gently replaced and it begins healing almost immediately, held in place securely by natural suction.

LASEK procedures do not involve flap creation. In LASEK treatments, the surgeon administers a dilute alcohol solution into your eye. This solution softens the top layer of your cornea which is then gently moved to the side, exposing the middle layer of your cornea. This is the point at which the laser is applied to your eye, before the softened top corneal layer is gently replaced again by the surgeon. Then, you will have a bandage contact lens put into your eye. This remains in place for 3-5 days and helps the healing process.

How do you know if LASIK or LASEK is best for you?

At Optimax, we offer free consultations for you to discover which type of treatment is your best option. We perform a range of tests and examinations at your appointment to determine the health of your eye and to look at a number of its characteristics. This includes:

• Checking your prescription
• Looking at your pupil size
• Assessing your corneal thickness
• Checking for dry eye syndrome

We will also ask a number of questions about your lifestyle and hobbies as these can sometimes be determining factors in which type of laser eye surgery you are recommended. LASIK surgery, due to its quick recovery time of just a couple of days, is usually what most patients wish to have. However, we may recommend LASEK to them instead if:

• They have thin corneas
• They have dry eyes
• They play contact sports

This is because if you have thin corneas, there is increased risk in creating a flap to lift – sometimes there simply isn’t enough cornea to do it. In these cases, LASEK would be more appropriate than LASIK. Similarly, patients with LASIK tend to experience more dry eyes as a temporary side effect than those with LASEK do after surgery. Due to this, if you already suffer with dry eyes, we may suggest that LASEK is a better option for you. Finally, the flap which is created during LASIK surgery can – on very rare occasions – lift when experiencing direct trauma or a knock to the eye. Therefore, if you play sports like squash or tennis, where a ball could hit you in the eye, or if you participate in activities like boxing, we may also recommend that you have LASEK rather than LASIK, in order to reduce flap complications.

Recovery after LASIK and LASEK

Recovery time for LASIK is relatively quick as the process is minimally invasive. Most patients are recovered within 24-48 hours, and some of our patients are even back at work the next day. With LASEK surgery, the recovery process is longer and can be up to around a week after surgery. This is because cells that were moved to access the middle of the cornea must regrow and settle again.

Time away from any sports or activities is generally the same for both LASIK and LASEK patients, and we give all Optimax patients an aftercare guide with details on our guidelines. One exception, however, is that LASEK patients are able to resume contact sports sooner than LASIK patients. This is because, in LASEK treatment, no flap is created so your cells regrow, creating a stronger join between the top and middle corneal layers. We recommend that all patients refrain from rigorous exercise for a month following both LASIK and LASEK treatment, so as not to increase the eye pressure or interfere with the healing process.

Start your journey to clear vision

If you’re thinking about laser eye surgery – be that LASIK or LASEK – give us a call on 0800 093 1110 or book your free consultation online. Our consultations are no-obligation and we have 20 clinics around the UK, so you’re sure to not be too far from your nearest Optimax branch. We look forward to helping you start your journey to clear, natural vision.