Tired of glasses or contact lenses? You may have considered laser eye surgery to correct your vision.
Laser eye surgery is a type of refractive surgery that uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, to improve how light focuses on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This can correct common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
At Lake Lazer Eye Center in Detroit, LASIK, SMILE and PRK are some of the most popular choices for permanent vision correction. Here is an overview of each procedure and its unique strengths.
LASIK Leads the Way
The most popular and well-known laser eye surgery is LASIK, which stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. In this procedure, the surgeon creates a thin flap in the cornea and lifts it to expose the underlying tissue. Then, the surgeon uses an excimer laser to remove a precise amount of corneal tissue to change the shape and curvature of the cornea. Finally, the flap is replaced to heal on its own.
At Lake Lazer Eye Center, Dr. Khambati uses advanced technology to perform the SoftTouch LASIK procedure. Advantages include:
- It is quick and comfortable, usually taking less than 15 minutes for both eyes.
- It has a high success rate. In fact, data shows Dr. Khambati has one of the Highest Success Rates in the State of Michigan.
- It has a low risk of complications, such as infection, inflammation or dry eyes.
- It has a fast recovery time, with most patients resuming their normal activities within a day or two.
LASIK surgery is suitable for most people who have a stable prescription and healthy eyes. However, you may need to explore other options if you:
- Have a very high or low prescription, or a high degree of astigmatism.
- Have thin or irregular corneas, corneal diseases or abnormalities.
- Have dry eyes or other eye conditions that may affect healing or increase the risk of complications.
- Have a history of eye injuries, infections or surgeries.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Have an unstable or changing prescription, especially if you are under 21 years old.
If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, two of the most common alternatives are SMILE and PRK.
The SMILE Procedure – The Latest Version of Laser Vision Correction
Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is similar to LASIK but doesn’t require creating a corneal flap. Instead, the surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to create a tiny, disc-shaped piece of tissue (called a lenticule) within the cornea, and then gently removes it. This changes the shape of the cornea and corrects the vision error.
SMILE benefits:
- Minimally invasive and quick to heal. Most patients are back to all normal activities, including working out and wearing makeup, within 24 hours.
- Preserves more corneal strength and stability, which may reduce the risk of ectasia (bulges or weakness in the cornea).
- Causes less dry eye symptoms.
- Can correct severe nearsightedness.
SMILE surgery is mainly used to treat nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism.
PRK – Still a Great Option for Some Patients
PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is the predecessor of LASIK. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) and uses an excimer laser to reshape the underlying tissue. The epithelium grows back naturally within a few days.
PRK advantages:
- No flap-related complications, which makes it suitable for people with thin or irregular corneas.
- Preserves corneal tissue, which may be beneficial for people with high prescriptions or thin corneas.
- Can treat a wide range of refractive errors, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
Consult with Dr. Khambati at Lake Lazer Eye Center to discuss the vision correction options that are best for you. During your consultation, our team will perform a series of comprehensive scans to evaluate your vision, eye health, corneal shape and thickness, pupil size and other factors.
Lake Lazer Eye Center offers Detroit LASIK patients up-front pricing, and convenient and affordable payment plans for SoftTouch LASIK and the SMILE procedure. Dr. Khambati has helped thousands of people from all over the world escape the restrictions of glasses and contacts through LASIK. Detroit patients who are not candidates for vision correction can get our assistance with a contact lens evaluation or a selection of designer and specialty eyewear.
