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Laser Vision Correction

Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois

Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA)

In Advanced Surface Ablation, Dr. Lockhart uses the advanced Allegretto WaveLight Eye-Q Laser to give Laser Vision Correction to people with low to high degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Advanced Surface Ablation is a name used to distinguish second-generation Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), from the previous version, although some doctors still use the term PRK.

In ASA, the outer layer of the cornea, known as the epithelium, is removed, using a sponge and spatula, exposing the central part of the cornea, the stroma. Then the Allegretto WaveLight Eye-Q Laser is used to precisely reshape the cornea so that light is focused properly onto the retina at the back of the eye. A therapeutic contact lens in placed over the treatment area and within 3-10 days the epithelium heals to cover the reshaped cornea. The therapeutic contact lens is then removed.

ASA is a better procedure for some people than LASIK. Some people have corneas that are too thin for LASIK, but are appropriate for ASA. In LASIK, a protective covering is made in the stroma so that the Laser Vision Correction can be performed on the center of the cornea, but ASA does not require a significant thickness for the creation of the protective covering , only for the actual correction. Whereas the protective covering is between 100 and 140 micrometers, the actual depth of ablation during ASA is only 25-80 micrometers, making people with significantly thinner corneas eligible for ASA.

A second reason why a person might choose ASA over LASIK is if he or she is engaged in a high-contact occupation where eye trauma is a significant risk. If eye trauma occurs, it is possible that the protective covering created during LASIK might become dislodged, even years after the procedure.

A third reason why a person might choose ASA over LASIK is if he or she has dry eyes. L ASIK is known to be associated with dry eyes, temporarily but it is a problem. So if during your testing Dr. Lockhart finds you have dry eyes, ASA would be the safest and best procedure for you.

On the other hand, ASA may have a longer healing period than LASIK. You may not be a good candidate for ASA if:

  • You do not have a stable vision prescription
  • You suffer from certain eye conditions such as keratoconus

In addition, it is important to have realistic expectations about the procedure. Although ASA does give uncorrected vision of 20/40 or better to the majority of patients. Some people do not receive full vision correction from any procedure, and may need to continue using corrective lenses.

If you are interested in Laser Vision Correction, whether LASIK or ASA, contact Gailey Eye Clinic today for a consultation.