Advanced Surface Ablation Effective Following LASIK

At the 2009 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (AAO-PAAO), research was presented demonstrating that advanced surface ablation is a safe and effective way to treat residual myopia or hyperopia in patients who have previously undergone LASIK. Furthermore, this procedure can be performed long after the initial LASIK procedure was completed.

These findings will most likely greatly impact the effectiveness of laser eye surgery procedures. Most of the other re-treatments for LASIK are accompanied by significant risks:

• Flap lifts may lead to striae, epithelial ingrowth, and complications such as buttonholed irregular flaps, especially when performed long after the original LASIK procedure.
  
• Recutting flaps may result in bisected tissue planes with tissue mismatch and poor visual results.
  
• Incisional surgery is not as accurate as excimer laser ablation.
  
• Photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) may cause haze in the flap.
  

The study presented at the AAO-PAAO meeting found that advanced surface ablation was much safer and more reliable than these other re-treatment methods. Furthermore, the average time interval between the original LASIK procedure and the ASA retreatment was 81.9 months, indicating that the procedure is both safe and effective for years following your intial LASIK treatment.

These types of advances in LASIK technology are just part of the reason why LASIK has one of the highest success rates of any surgical procedure.

Please contact The LASIK Directory to find a qualified LASIK surgeon in your area.