Contact our practice serving Modesto, Sacramento, and Stockton to learn more about PRK, LASEK, or Epi-LASIK laser eye surgery.
Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center
445 West Poplar Street
Stockton, California 95203
Ph. (866) 922-0405
Fax. (209) 465-2562
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Providing Stockton, Modesto, and Sacramento with LASIK and Other Ophthalmology ServicesModesto, Stockton, and the Sacramento Foothills – Laser Eye Surgery: PRK, LASEK, and Epi-LASIK
Though LASIK is perhaps the best-known procedures for laser vision correction, there are many other options available to help patients who may not be candidates for LASIK. At Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center, we believe in providing as many treatment options as possible in order to help more patients achieve clear vision. For this reason, in and around Modesto, Stockton, and Sacramento we offer PRK, LASEK, and Epi-LASIK laser eye surgery. Today, these procedures can be performed with the aid of the wavefront imaging technology that makes custom LASIK so effective, making the clearest vision achievable without relying on LASIK.
PRK
PRK is a good option for patients with thinner corneas or with corneal scarring who are interested in laser eye surgery. Thin corneas make LASIK unsafe because they cause problems with corneal flap formation. In PRK, there is no flap; instead, our surgeons remove the thin outer layer of the cornea (known as the epithelium) completely in order to access the corneal tissue for reshaping. The outer layer grows back after surgery.
PRK produces similar vision correction results to those we achieve with LASIK for patients from Modesto, Sacramento, and Stockton. However, recovering from PRK typically takes longer than recovering from LASIK, and some patients experience minor pain or discomfort during recovery as the eye heals. Eye drops and pain medication are available to ease the healing process, and protective contact lenses help guard against injury as the cornea heals. Most patients can return to normal activities within three days of surgery, though the eyes may take a few months to adjust completely after this form of laser eye surgery.
LASEK
LASEK is a bladeless alternative to LASIK that works well for patients at risk of cornea-related complications. There is no corneal incision required for LASEK, making this a good option for athletes and others at risk of corneal injury who may prefer to avoid LASIK. Instead, our surgeons create a thinner flap using a special alcohol solution. The eye is then treated with a laser much as it is in other laser vision correction procedures, and the flap is gently smoothed back into place.
The results achieved with LASEK are similar to those possible with other types of laser eye surgery, and complications are even less common with LASEK than with LASIK because there is no incision. On the other hand, it often takes a few days longer for our LASEK patients from Stockton, Sacramento, and Modesto to recover. Additionally, LASEK is not an appropriate laser eye surgery for individuals with refractive errors above +4.00 diopters or below -8.00 diopters, whereas LASIK is able to treat a wider range of errors.
Epi-LASIK
Epi-LASIK is another laser eye surgery alternative for those who are not good candidates for LASIK due to corneal complications or dry eye syndrome. In Epi-LASIK, our surgeons use a device called an epikeratome to move aside the epithelium, or outer layer of the eye, exposing the cornea. The exposed cornea is reshaped with an excimer laser like that used in other forms of laser eye surgery to correct for refractive errors. Once the cornea has been reshaped, the epithelial sheet is replaced and covered with a protective contact lens to promote healing. Patients from Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, and elsewhere who choose Epi-LASIK at Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center can also take advantage of wavefront imaging technology to enjoy a customized procedure that produces even better results.
Epi-LASIK patients enjoy fewer cornea-related complications and a lower rate of dry eye syndrome after surgery. The procedure is also safe for those with thin corneas. Recovery time is somewhat longer with Epi-LASIK than with conventional LASIK: patients typically notice improved vision after about four days, and most can drive within a week. It takes several months for the vision to stabilize so that Epi-LASIK patients can enjoy the full benefits of laser eye surgery.
Contact Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center
Even if you are not a candidate for LASIK, we may still be able to help you achieve clear vision with an effective alternative. We treat Modesto, Sacramento, and Stockton-area patients using LASEK, Epi-LASIK, and PRK laser eye surgery, and we achieve outstanding results with every procedure. Please contact Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center to schedule an appointment and explore the benefits of refractive surgery.