LASIK (Laser Assisted in-situ Keratomileusis)
LASIK is a type of corneal refractive surgery for correcting nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. LASIK differs from NuSite™ Advanced Surface Ablation. In LASIK, a thin flap is first produced in the cornea by a micro-keratome (or a "femtosecond" laser) before applying the excimer laser beneath the flap. The excimer laser does the actual reshaping. The flap's only function is to improve the vision in the first few days and weeks following the procedure, with the two procedures, NuSite™ and LASIK, reaching equal vision improvement within several weeks or a few months. Some refractive surgeons, including Dr. Garrett, find that their vision results are equal to and sometimes better with surface procedures such as NuSite™ than with LASIK. Some studies show increased visual abnormalities (so called "higher order aberrations" — HOA's) with producing the flap in LASIK compared with surface procedures. This increase in HOA's may reduce the overall visual quality of the surgical result. In the past, LASIK also gave improved early post-operative comfort compared with surface laser, but recent improvements in operative and post-operative care with NuSite™ have made the techniques essentially equal in comfort. The total pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative experience of the patient is essentially the same with these two techniques, except the earlier clarity of LASIK mentioned above.
Unfortunately, the production of the LASIK flap creates a long list of potential complications that are avoided by choosing NuSite™ Advanced Surface Ablation. This is why at Virginia Beach Eye Center, our preferred technique for corneal refractive surgery is NuSite™ Advanced Surface Ablation. You get the great visual results achievable with customized excimer laser reshaping of the cornea, without the risk of an unneeded flap that never fully heals.
We do offer patients LASIK who want this technique in order to minimize their down time with surgery. This could be, for example, a business owner who cannot afford to be out of work for a few days for his cornea to recover from NuSite™ surgery. So, for patients whose main criteria is speed of recovery in choosing their desired procedure, LASIK may be the right choice. Despite the extra risk involved in making a flap with LASIK, the overwhelming majority of patients have great visual results with this technique as well!
