Asian Eyes
Asian Eye Anatomy: Understanding the Differences
Asian eyes have unique anatomical characteristics that differ from non-Asian eyes. These differences can impact the outcome of vision correction procedures, such as LASIK or LASEK. Here’s what you need to know about Asian eye anatomy:
- Flatter Corneas: Asian eyes are known for having flatter corneas compared to Western eyes. This flatter shape can make the cornea more susceptible to dryness and other complications following laser vision correction, which is why LASEK is preferable, because LASEK is non-cutting, so doesn’t kill corneal nerves, which is the cause of dryness after the cutting LASIK procedure. In addition, if your surgeon is still cutting LASIK flaps with a metal blade, the blade may not enter the cornea properly if it is too “flat”, resulting in a defective flap, and poor quality vision.
- Smaller Corneal Diameter: Asian eyes also tend to have a smaller corneal diameter, which can impact the way the cornea reacts to laser vision correction. It is important for surgeons to take these unique anatomical characteristics into account when performing vision correction procedures on Asian eyes.
- Smaller interpalpebral fissures: Asian eyes are not smaller (and black people’s eyes aren’t larger) than Caucasian eyes, they just look that way, because the lids are closer together (black people’s eyes look larger because their eye sockets are more shallow, so they are more protuberant). This can cause huge problems while cutting the LASIK flap, because sometimes the surgeon can’t get adequate exposure, making cutting a high-quality flap impossible, and increasing the chance of a flap complication (like an incomplete flap), which would make completing the surgery dangerous. This is why if you have very narrow eyes (little space between your eyelids) it is unsafe to get LASIK or SMILE. You must either get the older, very painful PRK, or the newer, painless LASEK, because these are the only 2 non-cutting forms of laser vision correction.
Dr. Chynn has successfully performed thousands of LASEKs on Asian eyes. Indeed, many LASIK surgeons refer their Asian patients to him, because they know it is much safer to perform LASEK than LASIK in Asian patients with small eyes (narrow interpalpebral fissures). In addition, these patients were relieved to not have the dry eyes that can happen after LASIK
Are you an Asian person considering laser vision correction?
Dr. Chynn is the only eye surgeon in the USA specializing in LASEK, because he is Asian himself, and wanted to offer a safer alternative to LASIK for Asian people. Please call (212) 741-8628 or email info@ParkAvenueLASEK.com to schedule your Free Consultation if you’re of Asian descent and considering laser vision correction–you’ll be glad you did!