Are you contemplating laser eye surgery in Modesto? Corrective eye surgery can significantly bolster a person’s outlook on life and lifestyle. LASIK and ASA, aka Advanced Surface Ablation, are two major surgeries that correct refractive errors. While Lasik surgery in Modesto is a one-stop option for many, ASA is the best alternative to LASIK, offering similar long-lasting outcomes.
Both surgeries improve your vision by altering the cornea’s shape in distinct ways. With LASIK, an excimer laser is utilized to ready the cornea for further treatment. ASA is diligently performed by eliminating the epithelium, followed by the laser application to the cornea’s surface.
How Does LASIK and ASA Differ?
Despite their identical results and visible similarities, ASA and LASIK have a few differences. The LASIK eye surgery process is shown below:
- Surgeons generate a flap in the cornea while performing LASIK, which is lifted, and the tissue beneath it gets remodified with the laser to fix the refractive error.
- The flap is then kept in its original position, fixed for 3-4 minutes, and safeguarded by a delicate contact for 24 hours.
- Patients will recover quickly and return to daily activities within a day or two.
The ASA surgery process is the following:
- The external layer of the central corneal cells, which is termed “epithelium,” is eliminated safely.
- Eye surgeons use a laser similar to LASIK to reconstruct the cornea and fix the refractive error.
- A contact lens has been placed on the operated eye to serve as a bandage while the epithelial cells regenerate.
- Once the epithelium heals, patients will start to observe things more effectively.
Factors to Consider While Choosing Between LASIK and ASA
When choosing between LASIK and ASA, there are several factors to consider, as both surgeries involve distinct surgical procedures. Below are the pros and cons shown:
- Flap complexities – Surgeons build a flap in the cornea during LASIK. Although supremely rare, minor complexities might arise from this. If anything happens, altering the flap without laser treatment is crucial. After that, you need to allow it to heal for a few months and return to your doctor to have LASIK performed.
ASA involves the extraction of the top layer of epithelial cells rather than a flap to remodify the cornea. Hence, ASA is the most effective treatment for situations with potential risk factors for a flap issue.
- Recovery time – ASA consists of prolonged recovery and higher downtime. As the epithelial cells are extracted, several days are required to regenerate the epithelium. Often, patients return to their daily activities after the contact is pulled out on the morning of day 4.
Contrarily, a LASIK patient in Modesto might only need 1-2 days of healing before commencing their daily activities.
- Visual Enhancements – Luckily, with a professional ophthalmologist and cutting-edge technology, the ASA and LASIK provide exceptional visual results for a patient. There is a similar quality between these treatment outcomes. It is, therefore, possible to improve your eyesight, even if your corneal membrane is fragile or the eyeglass prescription is high.
Which Process is Right for You?
Ascertaining your eligibility is essential to undergo LASIK or ASA, and a professional eye surgeon in Modesto can give you the proper guidance. You should have adequate corneal tissue for LASIK to qualify for this process. On the other hand, higher prescriptions are the primary requirement for ASA due to the involvement of more tissue removal. Your surgeon in Modesto will inform you which surgery would be best according to your visual accuracy and eyes. Lastly, as every eye differs, from the pupil size to the cornea shape, a surgeon will determine the best laser eye procedure after assessing these anatomical differences.
