Answers: Advanced Surface Treatment Lasik Without A Flap

By Author: Dr. Andrew Caster
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Many of my friends have had Lasik. Why do you sometimes recommend Lasik without a flap?

According to a top qualified Los Angeles eye surgeon, there are certain people for whom Lasik without a flap is the preferred technique. In the following situations, Lasik without a flap is the safer choice: moderate to extreme dry eyes, very thin corneas, thin corneas combined with large corrections, irregular topography (curvature test) that may indicate an inherent weakness in the cornea, or hobbies or professions (such as boxing) where there is a very high likelihood of being hit in the eye. Safety needs to be our most important consideration, and for these certain people, Lasik without a flap is safest.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Los Angeles Lasik Without A Flap?

There are two disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that Lasik without a flap takes longer to heal. The vision is often around 20/40 to 20/50 during the first week. 20/40 vision is required to legally drive a car. You will certainly have adequate walking around vision to perform most daily tasks, but it is certainly possible that you will not see well ...
... enough to legally drive or see clearly enough to work at a computer or read extensively during the first week. Although most people choose to have both eyes treated on the same day, some people choose to have Lasik without a flap one eye at a time, and then they can work during the first week while the eye is healing. With Lasik, most people return to work the very next day. The second disadvantage is on and off discomfort during the first week, which is very well controlled with comfort drops as well as anti-inflammatory pills.

Do you perform other forms of laser vision correction in addition to
"Lasik without a flap"?
Among the many services provided by your experience Lasik doctor Los Angeles patients have all the variations of laser vision correction, including Lasik, IntraLasik (Lasik with a laser flap), and "Lasik without a flap" available as possible laser eye correction options.

I want the Custom Wavefront treatment. Can I have that with Lasik without a flap?
Yes, we can perform the Custom Wavefront treatment with Lasik, IntraLasik, and Lasik without a flap.

How is Lasik without a flap performed?
As explained by a top Lasik surgeon Los Angeles without a flap uses the exact same laser as Lasik or IntraLasik. However, instead of creating a flap (which is the thickness of a human hair) and then performing the treatment on the part of the eye under the flap, the treatment is performed near the surface of the eye. This is why this technique is often referred to as Advanced Surface Treatment. The thin layer of material covering the surface, which is very soft, is wiped away, and the laser treatment is then applied to the firmer material underneath.

Which gives better results: Lasik, IntraLasik, or Lasik without a flap?
In our hands, the final vision is the same with each of these variations. Lasik provides the most rapid return to excellent vision, followed by IntraLasik, and then Lasik without a flap. We want to make the recovery as easy and quick for you as possible, but our main concern is which technique will be the safest technique for your particular situation.

What care is required after Lasik without a flap?
A special contact lens, which we put in and later take out, is worn for 5-7 days. You will need to take antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops, and we will give you anti-inflammatory pills.

Is Lasik without a flap very common?
About 10% of the laser treatments in the United States are Lasik without a flap. It has been performed since 1995, and very significant improvements have taken place over the years. Advanced Surface Treatment is becoming more popular each year, as doctors understand that for certain groups of people it is the safest choice.