ASA - Advanced Surface Ablation / PRK - Photorefractive Kertectomy / LASEK

In an Advanced Surface Treatment procedure, the laser correction is performed on the surface of the cornea rather than a deeper layer.  Since there is no creation of a LASIK flap, ASA is generally considered an even safer procedure.

In this procedure the most superficial cells are simply removed from the cornea, and the laser treatment is applied in the same way as if under a flap. After the laser treatment, a special extended wear contact lens is placed on the eye. Patients who are experienced with contacts are asked to remove the lens themselves on the 3rd night after the surgery, or the doctor will remove them on the 4th day.  The contact lens provides protection to the eye while the epithelium regenerates naturally, just like the flap in traditional LASIK provides protection.

This procedure is a very safe alternative to LASIK and could be recommended to a patient with one or more of the following factors:

• Thin corneas
• Irregular corneas
• Unusual astigmatism
• Dry eyes
• Corneal scars
• “Lazy” eyes
• Previous RK surgery
• Military Pilots
• Previous complicated LASIK surgery

This procedure was the forerunner of LASIK surgery in the early 1990s, but when the technology of LASIK was perfected and FDA approved, most patients underwent LASIK surgery, which provides a faster and more comfortable recovery. 

Although the recovery of ASA is 4-5 days, the ultimate vision is the same as LASIK, but provides a safer alternative in those patients who are less than perfect LASIK candidates.
With his excellent success rate with ASA, and his cautious approach to refractive surgery, Dr. Matzkin does not hesitate to recommend ASA when appropriate.