What Is LASIK?
LASIK which stands for Laser Assisted in situ keratomileusis is a surgical procedure that
corrects a patient´s vision by reshaping a patients cornea (the outer part of the eye that causes the light to focus).
The shape of most cornea’s are not perfect,
these imperfections are called refractive errors and are classified as either myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. The laser treatment attempts to correct these errors by reshaping the cornea with the laser pulses.
The LASIK procedure
LASIK is just one method of a wider array of procedures for correcting vision, known as refractive surgery, and just one type of laser vision correction.
During the LASIK procedure Dr. Haddad creates a flap using an Amadeaus. After a flap is created the flap is peeled back and the laser treatment
is applied. There are two types of laser treatments, conventional and CustomVue. After the laser treatment is complete Dr. Haddad places the flap back over the eye, which acts as a bandage and the procedure is complete.
Variations of LASIK
There are variations of LASIK that fall within the laser vision correction category:
EPI-LASIK – This variation of LASIK uses a Microkeratome to slide over the surface of the cornea to
remove the epithelial layer of cells. The same laser treatment is applied, then the epithelium flap is
placed back down and a bandage contact lens is applied after the procedure to promote rapid healing.
LASEK – This is another variation of LASIK in which no flap is created and no blade is used. The surface of the eye is
prepped with an alcohol based substance and then the laser treatment is applied. A bandage contact lens is placed over
the eye after the procedure to promote healing. The healing time for LASEK is considerably longer, and is usually recommended
to patients who have thinner corneas or have a high risk of eye trauma.
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