What is Laser Vision Correction, LASIK and ASA?

These are laser procedures that can help people eliminate or significantly reduce their dependency on glasses and contact lenses. LASIK and ASA are procedures that require very little down time from work and/or activities. There are no shots or IV's or patching involved with these procedures. Topical numbing eye drops are used so the patient has very little to no feeling on the eye during the procedure. The laser treatment takes an average of 45 seconds. LASIK and ASA are performed with an Excimer laser. In the LASIK procedure a protective covering is created using a microkeratome and then the protective covering is lifted and moved out of the way. The Excimer Laser is then applied for the necessary amount of time to eliminate nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. Then the protective covering is placed back into position and since that protective covering is still in tact, patients usually have less discomfort and faster visual results. With the ASA procedure a thin layer of epithelium from the cornea is removed with a sponge and then the Excimer laser is applied to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. Then a therapeutic contact lens is placed over the treatment area for a few days. When the epithelium grows back in (under the contact) Dr. Lockhart will then remove the contact lens and gradually the visual results will be noticed. The advantage of ASA over LASIK is no cutting, less invasive, but slower visual results. Advantage of LASIK faster visual results, but a little riskier to perform. Same end results.