Admittedly, their names are so similar you might initially assume that one of them was a typo, but LASEK and LASIK eye surgery are actually two distinct types of laser eye surgery. Of course, they have their similarities too, as they’re both types of laser eye surgery. So what are some of the key differences between them? How else are they similar? Read on to find out.
Similarity: AVC delivers them both
The good news is that Advanced VisionCare is well-equipped to be able to carry out both LASEK and LASIK surgery, so whichever one you have, we’ll be able to take care of you.
Difference: the way the procedure is carried out
As you might expect for two different types of eye surgery, LASEK and LASIK are carried out in slightly different ways.
LASIK eye surgery involves creating a small flap on the outer layer of your cornea. This is essentially lifted away so that the laser treatment can be carried out before the flap is put back into place to heal following the end of the procedure.
LASEK treatment differs because no flap is created. Instead, the top layer of the cornea is loosened and moved out of the way while the surgeon applies the laser. The moved layer is then put back into place.
Similarity: good results
A very welcome similarity between the two procedures is that the results are essentially the same, so you don’t need to worry that you’re losing out in terms of vision by having one type of surgery rather than the other.
Difference: who can have the surgery
Out of the two procedures, LASIK eye surgery is the most popular and is generally considered to be the most efficient and effective method of eye surgery. This means that most people opt to have this version, but this isn’t always possible.
For instance, if someone has thin corneas then the surgeon may advise LASEK treatment instead. However, improved technology means that flaps can sometimes be created even on thin corneas, so LASIK is now an option for more people than ever before.
Whichever type of treatment you have, though, you shouldn’t worry – your AVC surgeon will talk you through your options and give you all the information you need to make sure you get the right option.
Similarity: cost
The cost of LASIK and LASEK treatment is roughly the same, which is good news.
Difference: recovery period
Generally, people tend to recover quicker from LASIK eye surgery than LASEK treatment, which is another reason this option is so popular with people having laser eye surgery. However, there’s usually only a few days in it and LASEK is still a good option for many.
