Laser Eye Surgery Procedures

Bellevue LASIK, to assist you in making an informed decision regarding laser eye surgery, provides this information about our procedures for you.

LASIK eye surgery defined

LASIK, laser in situ keratomileusis, a form of outpatient corneal surgery in which, under local anesthesia, a surgeon uses a specialized and precise flap-making instrument, called a microkeratome, to create a thin flap of corneal tissue. This flap is raised and laid back while still attached to the cornea. The surgeon then uses an excimer laser to remove a pre-determined amount of corneal tissue from the exposed bed of the cornea. The amount of tissue to be removed is calculated based on the preoperative determination of the power of your eye glasses or contact lenses. The flap is replaced and within minutes natural forces hold the flap down on the cornea. Usually, within a few hours, the epithelium (surface layer of cells) of the cornea begins to grow over the cut edge of the flap to seal it into position. LASIK eye surgery can be used to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and presbyopia.

ASA eye surgery defined

ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation), is a form of outpatient corneal surgery in which a surgeon removes the surface layer of cells on the cornea called the epithelium, and then reshapes the corneal bed with the laser in the same way as LASIK eye surgery. After ASA eye surgery, you will wear a soft contact lens (bandage lens) until the epithelial layer regenerates. Healing responses vary from patient to patient. This technique is usually used for people whose cornea may be too thin to allow for the creation of the corneal flap required for LASIK eye surgery. ASA eye surgery may also be used for individuals with keratoconus, loose epithelum or participation in contact sports. The procedure is used to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and presbyopia.

Laser eye surgery is elective

ASA and LASIK eye surgery are elective procedures. There is no medical condition or emergency condition requiring that you have ASA or LASIK eye surgery. They do not correct all levels of refractive error and are not for everyone. We cannot guarantee that ASA or LASIK eye surgery will improve your vision, or that it will eliminate your need for eye glasses or contact lenses. After laser eye surgery, you may still need eye glasses or contacts for some purposes, either immediately after having laser eye surgery or years later. It is unrealistic to expect that your vision will remain perfectly stable, either because laser eye surgery may lead to short-term changes in the cornea or because your eye may change over time.