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LASEK eye surgery is an on-the-rise operation that helps repair vision problems. This operation can greatly improve your quality of life and vision, and it’s an operation that a lot of people are enthusiastic to get. You may have heard of LASIK, LASEK, both, or neither. There is a difference between these two operations, though they sound the same when you say them out loud. Each of these operations helps with a different category of patient. Understanding what LASEK is and how it’s different from other vision correction surgeries is the crucial first step to having the operation and fixing the problems with your vision.
If you are considering LASEK in Korea or anywhere else, you obviously want to do your due diligence and understand exactly what the operation is. LASEK is an acronym that stands for Laser Assisted Subepithelial Keratomileusis. That sounds like a jumble of words, but it goes a long way in telling you what the surgery is all about and what part of your eye it aims at repairing. The surgery uses special eye surgery equipment and during the operation, a small amount of the corneal epithelial layer is peeled back to gain access to the problem area.
Some people, due to the condition of their cornea, are not suitable candidates for LASIK. LASEK is a good alternative for a lot of people who are unable to safely have LASIK eye surgery done. LASEK simply has a slightly different procedure that is more geared towards a person who is not a good candidate for LASIK in Korea.
Part of learning about LASEK is discovering what the process is. There are several steps included in LASEK and some people feel more comfortable with surgery when they know exactly what is going to be happening. Aside from that, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the operation that you are getting so that you can have an informed and intelligent discussion with your doctor. It will also enable you to ask the right questions when it comes time for your consultation.
The first step of the surgery is the step in which the doctor will mark the area for incision. An alcohol solution is applied to the area to ensure sanitation and safety. This is just the basic prep work for the procedure. The next step is to remove a layer of epithelium, which is loosened by the application of the alcohol in the preparatory phases of the operation. In the third step of LASEK, the laser begins to reshape the curvature of the cornea. This is the actual part of the surgery that makes a difference in your vision. The repair that the laser does is the end goal of the procedure. After the laser is done, a protective lens is placed over the cornea to complete the surgery and protect the area.
The potential for pain is one of the main reasons that some people are hesitant to get any procedure. Following a LASEK surgery, you can expect to experience mild pain and soreness for 3 to 4 days after surgery completion. This is a much slower recovery time than what you’d expect from LASIK, which is why a lot of people are hesitant to choose LASEK over LASIK. At some clinics, LASEK operations are now painless. To be sure, you’ll need to have a discussion with your specialist. Though the surgery is mostly the same, there are different methods that different offices use. Some are painless or near painless and others are not. Have an open discussion with your doctor to learn about their LASEK procedure. You’ll want to ask questions about the process and what the expected recovery time is.
Since LASEK is so similar to LASIK, it’s especially important that you understand what the difference is and what makes you a good candidate for LASIK as opposed to LASEK.
The primary factor that makes you a good option for LASEK is the thickness of your corneas. Patients who have thinner corneas will typically be best suited for LASEK instead of LASIK. This has to do with the surgery and the damage that it can do to the cornea. In LASEK, the laser is more delicate on your cornea and it’s better for those with thin and fragile corneas.
Another factor that’s going to affect whether you should get LASEK is what your occupation and hobbies are. If you are frequently in hard contact situations, sports, or jobs, you are most likely going to want to seriously consider LASEK. This can include any number of sports that include contact or very physical jobs.
If you have small eyes or unusually shaped corneas, you are most likely a good candidate for LASEK. Suitable candidates for LASEK also include those who have been wearing contacts for a long type and patients with high myopia who are also not suitable for a LASIK surgery.
In LASEK surgery, the part of the procedure in which corneal flaps are made doesn’t exist. This removes a significant risk, especially for those with thin corneas. Some patients are at more risk than others due to the structure of their eyes, which is why LASEK is a great alternative to keep in mind. Another reason that people choose LASEK is that it helps to preserve more of the tissue of the cornea. This is yet another contributor to the decision for people with thin corneas to choose LASEK over LASIK. The most common patient of LASEK is the one who is found to be ineligible for LASIK.
The recovery process after LASEK surgery is just as important as the actual procedure. There are several things that you can do to speed up and strengthen the recovery of your eyes following LASEK.
LASEK in Korea is a common procedure to help people who need vision correction surgery but cannot get LASIK or are unsuitable for other vision correction treatments. The most common reason to get LASEK is to preserve the cornea or avoid damaging a thin cornea. Though LASEK is considered to be a minor operation, it’s still important to be well-researched on any surgery that you go through and you should have a detailed conversation with your specialist to determine if LASEK in Korea is the best option for you.