Lasek Vs. Lasik: Pros and Cons

Take a look at the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery).  LASIK is still preferred over LASEK.  Each procedure has pros and cons depending on the patient’s eyes.  Be careful of non-“peer” web sites that are more advertising than data based.  Most importantly see a respectable and ethical surgeon.  It’s hard to be non-biased if the surgeon is not trained to perform all types of procedures.

Some of my colleagues who perform the LASEK procedure do so b/c of the slight reduction in complications seen (since there is no corneal flap created in this procedure). The downside to LASEK is not only that the healing time takes longer but that the healing process may be more uncomfortable than LASIK. In fact, some surgeons have noted that LASEK is more uncomfortable and has a longer healing time than PRK. For that reason, I perform LASIK and PRK, not LASEK at my practice. If you're interested in LASEK, I would suggest researching PRK. There is much more information out there about PRK and the two procedures are very similar. The only difference is that, in PRK, the outer epithelial cells of the cornea are removed before the laser treatment is performed while, with LASEK, the out epithelial cells are loosened with an alcohol solution and then lifted in a pseudo-flap. From that point on, the procedures are identical. Hope that helps!
-Dr. Clinch