Las Vegas Eye Institute (LVEI), based in Las Vegas, NV, has recently posted an article titled, “How Does Your Cornea Protect Your Eye After LASIK”. The article explains what happens to the cornea after the LASIK procedure. The cornea is made up of three layers with the epithelium as the uppermost layer. Under the epithelium is the stroma, which makes up about 90 percent of the structure of the cornea, and the lowest layer is a single layer of cells known as the corneal endothelium, which keeps the cornea clear. The epithelium is constantly regenerating, which means that any changes made to it will not last long because it will simply regenerate. And the endothelial layer is not also modified during LASIK or PRK because it is so deep. It is the stroma that is modified during LASIK or PRK.
Dr. Matthew Swanic explains, “LASIK eye surgery alters the middle layer of the cornea called the stroma. We have to alter this middle layer because the surface layer, called the epithelium, is constantly regenerating, so LASIK surgery would not be permanent if we only performed laser reshaping on the surface layer. We know that as long as we don’t remove too much tissue, or perform LASIK on poor candidates, the cornea will remain strong, and the quality of vision will be maintained long-term.”
To ensure that the cornea is strong enough to protect the eye after LASIK surgery, the LVEI prides itself in having not only a corneal expert do all the procedures but also in having the most up-to-date corneal diagnostic equipment to evaluate the eye before the procedure. This ensures that they will only choose the best candidates for LASIK to get the best possible results. They will measure the thickness of the cornea with the Galilei G4 device at thousands of points. This diagnostic test is vital because it allows them to have a detailed look at the corneal endothelial surface to ensure that there are no indications of corneal weakness before the LASIK procedure is done.
Knowing the thickness of the cornea is essential because LASIK can be problematic for patients with corneas that are too thin or have a condition known as keratoconus. An evaluation of the cornea by an ophthalmologist who is fellowship trained in cornea and refractive surgery is often recommended.
In LASIK, a corneal flap is made at the start of the LASIK procedure to allow the surgeon to access the stroma that is then reshaped and recontoured. Because of the strong capacity of the human eye to heal, the corneal flap quickly adheres to the cornea within minutes after the flap is made. The next day, the surface epithelial layer has already filled in the gap at the edge of the corneal flap. And in the following weeks and months, the cornea adheres more strongly to the edges cut during LASIK.
It is important to note that the LASIK procedure does weaken the cornea but an expert surgeon like Dr. Swanic knows how much to safely remove to ensure the patient will have a stable and excellent vision.
Launched in 2013, Las Vegas Eye Institute is headed by its founder Matthew Swanic, MD, who had training in cornea and refractive surgery with specialization in advanced LASIK and cataract surgery while he was doing his fellowship at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He trusts laser vision correction enough that he himself had undergone photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for his own eyes in 2010. He has obtained a certification for the advanced Alcon Ex500 with Contoura laser and he is also capable of performing bladeless LASIK with the Carl Zeiss Visumax femtosecond laser. He uses multifocal and toric lenses of various designs to offer a custom-fit solution for a particular patient’s eyes. He has also received certification for the J&J Catalys laser for femtosecond cataract surgery.
Those who would like to know more about LASIK surgery can visit the Las Vegas Eye Institute website or contact them through the phone or via email.
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For more information about Las Vegas Eye Institute, contact the company here:
Las Vegas Eye Institute
Dr. Matthew Swanic
(702) 816-2525
lasik@lasvegaseyeinstitute.com
9555 S Eastern Ave #260
Las Vegas, NV 89123
