LASEK Surgery - San Jose and Mountain View Area LASEK Doctor
For patients interested in vision correction, LASEK surgery is offered at our San Jose and Mountain View area center. A LASEK doctor at Peninsula Laser Eye Medical Group can help determine if this option is right for you.
- What is LASEK?
- How long does treatment take?
- What can I expect following LASEK surgery?
- What are the advantages of LASEK?
What is LASEK?
LASEK is
another approach our San Jose and Mountain View area office uses
to treat refractive patients who are not ideal candidates for LASIK.
Patients with unusually thin corneas are one group who might
be best treated with LASEK. This refractive surgery solution
is a modification of the PRK procedure.
LASEK is performed without a microkeratome incision. At Peninsula
Laser Eye Medical Group in Mountain View, a LASEK doctor creates
a flap in the superficial epithelial layers (50 micron depth)
of the cornea only. Thereafter, the laser treatment is performed
just as in PRK and LASIK. The epithelial layer is then repositioned
to cover the treated area of the cornea.
How long does treatment take?
Allow approximately one hour for your LASEK treatment at our San Jose and Mountain View area center. A LASEK doctor will perform the laser correction in 30 to 60 seconds.
Following your LASEK treatment, you will need to wear bandage contact lenses for several days. You should arrange for transportation on the day of your procedure. Typically, patients are able to return to normal activities after one to three days.
What can I expect following LASEK surgery?
Compared to LASIK, the recovery after LASEK involves a bit more eye discomfort for the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure and a slower recovery to crisp sharp vision (usually several days to a week). For this reason, our Mountain View LASEK doctors usually perform the surgery on each eye approximately a week or two apart, unlike LASIK, which is usually performed bilaterally. In addition, patients will usually use topical eye medications for a few months postoperatively to ensure optimal healing after LASEK. The visual results are similar to PRK and LASIK.
What are the advantages of LASEK?
For patients who are good candidates for LASEK, the procedure offers a number of advantages, including:
- Safely enjoy the benefits of refractive surgery
- Appropriate for patients with thin or flat corneas
- The microkeratome incision step is not required
- Less discomfort and more rapid return of vision than PRK
For more information on LASEK near San Jose, or to speak with a Mountain View LASEK doctor, contact Peninsula Laser Eye Medical Group today.
