LASIK in Orange County

What happens during LASIK surgery that may be affected by corneal thickness? To begin the LASIK procedure, numbing drops are applied to your eye so no pain is felt during your procedure. Next, an ultra-thin blade is used to create a flap on the top of your cornea, which is then folded back and an excimer laser is used to reshape your cornea. This LASIK laser eye procedure corrects your vision as close to 20/20 as possible. Finally, your corneal flap is replaced and left to heal naturally without the need for stitches.

Corneal thickness is an important consideration due to the reshaping done to improve vision during the LASIK laser eye procedure. Having a condition known as keratoconus is an automatic disqualifier for having LASIK. Keratoconus is a degenerative corneal disease affecting ones vision. Currently, no form of LASIK is recommended for patients with keratoconus. 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 LASIK laser vision correction can weaken an already diseased cornea and could require a corneal transplant sooner rather than later. However, procedures such as PRK and LASEK do not require making a 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 LASIK laser vision correction and have concerns about how good a candidate you might be, be contact the highly qualified LASIK surgeons at Harvard Eye in Orange County, California, who have performed 1,000′s laser vision correction procedures. These surgeons have the skill, experience, up-to-date equipment and technology necessary to meet your needs. Our ophthalmologists provide a comprehensive exam, and exceptional care following your LASIK laser vision correction procedure.

If you would like more information on LASIK vision correction in Orange County, California and the surrounding area, please visit Harvard Eye Associates of LASIK in Orange County today.