Sadeer B Hannush MD
Cornea and Refractive Surgery
400 Middletown Blvd. Suite 110
Langhorne, Philadelphia 19047
Phone: (215) 752-8564
More Laser Vision Enhancement Procedures
In addition to traditional LASIK surgery, Dr. Hannush offers several other laser vision correction procedures that may better suit your individual needs. Most of these procedures are similar in nature to LASIK in that they all treat correct bad vision via the same means: reshaping the corneal surface so light that passes through it is more precisely focused on the retina. These procedures differ from traditional LASIK in various technical aspects, but usually achieve comparable results.
LASEK
LASEK (Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis) differs from traditional LASIK in one fundamental way. Whereas during LASIK the entire corneal epithelium is removed to provide access to the corneal stroma (where the corrections are made), in LASEK only the outermost layer of epithelium is separated from the eye with an alcoholic solution. Thus, LASEK is a better option than traditional LASIK for patients who have thin or damaged corneas. Just as in traditional LASIK, once the procedure is complete, the flap of epithelium is replaced and allowed to heal naturally. The membrane takes just a few days to heal and usually develops fewer complications than it does after traditional LASIK.
Epi-LASIK
Epi-LASIK, so named because the outer corneal membrane is excised with a device called an epi-keratome, follows a procedure identical to LASIK after the removal of the flap. Because only the outermost layer of epithelium is removed from the corneal membrane, this treatment is an option for patients who have thin or damaged corneas and who would otherwise not be candidates for traditional LASIK. As in LASIK, this flap is repositioned after surgery and allowed to heal naturally, usually with very few side effects. One of the advantages of Epi-LASIK over traditional LASIK surgery is that there are fewer complications with the corneal flap due to the thinness of the layer of epithelium that is removed. Because of this, Epi-LASIK may be a more attractive option for some patients’ laser vision correction needs.
PRK
The procedure for PRK (photoreflective keratectomy) is virtually identical to that for LASEK. The only difference between the two procedures is in the way in which the outermost layer of corneal epithelium is removed. In PRK, the flap from the corneal membrane is removed entirely and is not replaced after surgery. This approach works because the outermost layer of the corneal membrane is replaced every several days by limbic stem cells, a process that creates a new, smooth outer membrane for the cornea.
It is thought that PRK is just as effective as, if not more effective than, traditional LASIK surgery. The reason is that PRK has a lower incidence of complications post-surgery. However, there are several drawbacks to PRK. The most prominent problem is that there is some discomfort during the initial stages of the healing process, so PRK is not as painless as LASIK or LASEK. Because the procedure is essentially identical to LASIK and LASEK after the corneal epithelium has been removed, the complications involved with those procedures can occur with PRK as well.
Contact Our Office
If you would like to learn more about laser corrective surgery or any of the specific procedures outlined on this website, contact Dr. Hannush. He will answer your questions personally.