Lasik Austin TX Services

At Lasik Austin, we take pride in our commitment to each client’s unique and specific needs. We are dedicated to offering the best in eye care with a variety of services, including treatments for astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, cataracts, or other vision-related issues. A few of our services include:

PRK, or ”Flapless” LASIK

PRK, or Photorefractive Keratectomy, has been practiced by surgeons for over fifteen years. PRK was the first laser corrective eye surgery approved by the FDA. There are some important differences between PRK and conventional LASIK surgery. With PRK, the surgeon does not create a flap of tissue before re-sculpting the cornea (giving the procedure the name “Flapless” LASIK). For this reason, PRK a can be a good alternative for patients with thin corneas, or for those who may not be good candidates for conventional LASIK.

PRK can be applied in cases of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. In terms of successfully improving a patient’s vision, PRK and LASIK offer equivalent long-term results. The primary difference between the procedures is in the recovery period: compared to LASIK patients, those who have received PRK may experience a bit more discomfort for the first 2-3 days after the procedure.

The PRK procedure itself, however, is painless. During the procedure, the eye is numbed with anesthetic drops. A PRK procedure involves the gentle removal of the top layer of the cornea, preparing the eye for treatment. This top layer of cells make up some of the fastest healing tissue in the human body. Once this layer of the cornea is removed, the cornea itself is re-sculpted.

AST-Advanced Surface Treatment
AST, also called Epi-LASIK, combines the best features of both LASIK and PRK. This procedure, created by the originator of LASIK, has been in use since the year 2000. During the AST procedure, the surface layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is separated from the rest of the cornea. Next, the surface of the cornea is reshaped, which is the key element in improving vision. Finally, the epithelial flap is replaced. The cornea is covered with a protective contact lens for 4-7 days while the epithelium heals. Once the eyes have healed, the contact lens can be removed.

Intralase, or all-laser LASIK

Intralase is a blade-free technique, utilizing only lasers to achieve lasting results. The lasers are used to create the corneal flap, which is the first step in laser vision correction. With the Intralase method, pulses of laser light are employed to create tiny bubbles in the corneal stroma. When these bubbles coalesce, a perfect flap forms. The flap is then customized to your eye’s precise and specific measurements. This allows our surgeons at LASIK Austin TX to ensure that the flap created is perfectly suited to the unique depth and shape of your eye.

Before the introduction of Intralase, conventional LASIK procedures were performed with a hand-held oscillating blade, called a microkeratome. The drawback with this method is that flaps created with a microkeratome can lack precision. Additionally, the microkeratome is only capable of making a single, one-dimensional cut across the cornea. Fortunately, the Intralase method offers a great improvement in this area. Many patients are also comforted to learn that, with the Intralase method, a blade NEVER touches your eye.

While it is true that this procedure is newer than other LASIK methods, it has proven itself in terms of both safety and effectiveness. To date, more than 1 million people throughout the world have used the Intralase method to safely and effectively improve their vision.

Here at LASIK Austin TX, we look forward to assisting you with the unique needs, desires and goals that you have for for your vision. With our staff of highly-trained, professional surgeons, and a variety of effective, cutting-edge procedures to work with, we are confident that we can help you to improve both your vision and your quality of life.