Why Does it Matter How Thick My Cornea is if I Want to Have Lasik?
Before answering that question specifically, letâs review what happens during LASIK surgery.
To begin, numbing drops are applied to the eye so no pain is felt during the procedure. Next, an ultra-thin blade is used to create a flap on the top of the cornea. That corneal flap is folded back and an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea, correcting the vision problems to as close to 20/20 as possible. Finally, the corneal flap is replaced and left to heal naturally without the need for stitches.
Corneal thickness is an extremely important consideration here due to the reshaping done to improve vision during the LASIK procedure. Having a condition known as keratoconus is an automatic disqualifier for having LASIK. Keratoconus is a degenerative corneal disease affecting ones vision. This hereditary condition includes a general thinning of the cornea along with a cone-shaped protrusion of the central cornea. Thinning the cornea further through laser vision correction can weaken an already diseased cornea and could require a corneal transplant sooner rather than later. Currently, no form of LASIK is recommended for patients with keratoconus.
However, procedures such as PRK and LASEK are performed without making the corneal flap and are better suited for patients with thinner than normal corneas.
PRK is an acronym for photo-refractive keratotomy and was around before LASIK surgery. An excimer laser is also used in this procedure but without having to allow for a corneal flap, it is safe to reshape the cornea without fear of worsening the existing keratoconus.
LASEK is much like PRK, but a very thin layer of the epithelium (outer-most layer of cells on the cornea) is removed and replaced intact before and after the corneal reshaping procedure.
If you are considering laser vision correction and have concerns about how good a candidate you might be, be sure to find a LASIK surgeon who has performed at least 1,000 laser vision correction procedures. These are the surgeons most likely to have the skill, experience, up-to-date equipment and technology necessary to meet your needs. You want an ophthalmologist who can provide a thorough exam, and exceptional care following your laser vision correction procedure.
If you would like more information on LASIK vision correction in Orange County, California and the surrounding area, please visit Khanna Institute of LASIK & Refractive Surgery today.
Jennifer Kimberley
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