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. In any procedure on an Asian person, the surgeon must use an “open-loop” speculum, to give more room for the surgery, and prevent pain. If a “closed-loop” speculum is used during surgery, there will be pain and sometimes the upper lid levator (muscle that lifts the lid) will be torn and the patient will have a droopy lid (“ptosis”) forever. So it is very important to go to an Asian surgeon who specializes in Asian eyes if you have eye surgery!
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 [email protected] to schedule your Free Consultation if you’re of Asian descent and considering laser vision correction–you’ll be glad you did!
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Why Patients Choose LASEK & LASIK Eye Surgery NYC
I had an amazing experience at Park Avenue LASEK. The entire staff was incredibly friendly, professional, and helpful throughout the whole process. They made me feel comfortable and answered all of my questions before and after the procedure.The surgery itself was surprisingly quick and easy, and the entire experience was much smoother than I expected. Most importantly, my vision is amazing, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m extremely grateful to the entire team at Park Avenue LASEK and would highly recommend them to anyone considering vision correction!
Paarth P.
02:05 14 Aug 26
Dr Chynn is a nice guy and helped me out
Mikhail P.
19:56 11 Aug 26
I went to Park ave Lasek for a consultation, Dr chynn diagnosed me with Keratoconus. He was able to do cross linking and Lasek procedure now I can see 20/20.
Alvin W.
14:31 10 Aug 26
Enjoying my result! Seeing better than glasses and contact. I have not used them since my surgery
Gisellys (.
18:27 06 Aug 26
Before LASEK, my precription was -3.75 in both eyes. After my surgery, my vision improved so much! Im seeing 20/20. LASEK is safer, non-cutting. No dry eyes, no halos, no night glare, no flap.
Milena Patricia Pájaro U.
15:57 05 Aug 26
Dr Chynn was a nice guy and helped me out
David A.
19:31 03 Aug 26
He was a nice guy and did me a solid
alex H.
17:36 03 Aug 26
I’m happy! Cool
DJOMANA B.
17:14 03 Aug 26
He was very nice
Parent Association of PS 1.
20:31 02 Aug 26
Amazing staff and Dr Chynn is the most experienced eye doctor when it comes to LASEK, one month later now I see 20/15 vision, I highly suggest everyone going to see him for the free consultation.
David R.
19:38 27 Jul 26
Hi. My name is Telina Shows. I would like to say that Park Avenue Lasek was very nice and had great customer service. Thank you for your service.
Telina S.
16:10 24 Jul 26
It's been two months since my epiLASEK surgery with Dr. Chynn and I'm really happy with the results: better than 20/20 vision and my close up screen vision is still perfect.I had a straightforward case of myopia (-1.5) and I can now go cycling in the rain, see how truly dirty my shower is, and I never have to shop for glasses again.I'm a software engineer so I was a little worried that improving my distance vision would come at the cost of my close up vision. But my vision when I'm staring at a screen all day has remained perfect. I was also worried about the possibility of dry eye, and only experienced it briefly for the first few weeks after the surgery.I got the comfort package so I was very relaxed during the procedure. The surgery itself is actually no big deal. I had to look at a flashing light for 10 seconds in one eye and 15 in the other. If you can follow instructions diligently, you'll get a great outcome.I'm the type of person who does extensive research before buying anything expensive. In my view, the vacuum-assisted epiLASEK surgery that Dr. Chynn offers is simply superior, and worth the extra cost. The trade off compared to regular LASIK seems to be recovery time; for me, the cost of keeping my eyes closed a few extra days during recovery is worth having the best vision I can get for many years to come.What's nice is the price transparency and I like that there are several options to help reduce the cost. You can go on the website and download the pricing form to see exactly how the cost of your surgery will be calculated. Pricing feels very fair, unlike most LASIK places.I admire that Dr. Chynn does things his own way and is focused on the very best outcomes for patients. I feel fortunate to have found Park Avenue LASEK. In particular, I appreciate the clear and detailed aftercare instructions, cautious follow-up exams, and systematic regimens to minimize side effects like MGD.Dr. D., Constantin, and Britney have been handling my follow up appointments and they have been great. It's been really satisfying to see my vision improve with every visit. 10/10
M P.
19:27 20 Jul 26
He is a nice guy and helped me out a lot:)
William C.
20:43 17 Jul 26
Dr Chynn was very nice and helped me out for free
Sadik D.
18:30 14 Jul 26
I had astigmatism and Dr. Chynn and his friendly staff helped reassure me that everything worked out great. I'm seeing better than with glasses.
nathan d
02:11 09 Jul 26
I had an extreme prescription before getting LASEK surgery and it improved not even a week after surgery. LASEK is a safer, no cutting. No dry eyes, no halos, no night glare. You should choose Dr Chynn and Park Avenue Lasek for your laser eye surgery
MARY M.
19:15 01 Jul 26
Very professional staff and very clean office. I’m so happy with the results of my surgery. I can read!!!! I highly recommend Dr. Chynn
dayan S.
17:24 24 Jun 26
I had an extreme prescription, unable to receive LASIK treatment. Dr. Chynn was the only doctor in the tri-state area able to treat my type of condition.
Gisellys A.
16:04 24 Jun 26
Great place! I came in for a free LASEK consultation today and they did a great job. They measured my vision and checked the thickness of my cornea to check for any underlying issues. Highly recommend
Sahil M.
17:59 15 Jun 26
Helpful experience and had amazing advice 10/10
Stanley R.
21:44 10 Jun 26
I have nystagmus and no other doctor could help me. Dr Chynn helped me. my vision is so much better after getting Lasek without glasses or contacts. very happy, highly recommend
Mirlinda M.
18:31 04 Jun 26
Zohaib F.
22:24 03 Jun 26
Really nice friendly understanding not complicatedWent everywhere to try to get diagnose he was the only one that could doNow I know ! Appreciate it
Ambrosia
17:59 03 Jun 26
Thanks for the topographic scan
Noreen A.
21:26 12 May 26
I decided to leave a review because I saw a few people saying "fake 5 stars reviews" and I am too grateful to let that slide. I had my surgery 11 years ago, June or July of 2015. I still have great vision and no complaints about surgery. This surgery was the best decision I've ever made.
Vielka J.
13:57 11 May 26
jacee j
15:30 07 May 26
I appreciated getting an orb scan and looking at options for someone with thin corneas.
Timothy M.
18:22 06 May 26
Great place wonderful experience
Derrell B.
14:34 05 May 26
Excited for my consult today for noncutting lasek since they said i have thin corneas at another center. I appreciate them being thorough and giving me a complimentary orbscan
Sahil K.
18:07 22 Apr 26
Nancy P
21:18 09 Apr 26
Dr. Chynn is truly exceptional—brilliant, precise, and an absolute expert in his field. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless, professional, and thoughtfully handled.I chose him for his deep experience with Asian eyes, and his expertise is undeniable. He understands the nuance and delivers results that feel both natural and highly refined.The non-cutting approach made the procedure far less intimidating, and recovery has been incredibly manageable. I’m beyond happy with my decision—he is genuinely one of the best at what he does!
Sara S.
16:04 09 Apr 26
The service was excellent and the staff made everything easy and comfortable. Highly recommend! Had my Orbscan done here
Diet Q.
17:23 30 Mar 26
Dr. Emil Chynn is a very nice Dr and treated me with upmost respect
Juan R.
04:31 25 Mar 26
Made me feel comfortable & explained the whole procedure. Highly recommended.
Morris B.
01:54 25 Mar 26
He's a nice guy
Jerron W.
19:01 24 Mar 26
Dr Chynn was very kind to me😃👍
Danny
17:01 24 Mar 26
Dr Chynn was very kind and gave me some free new things that were his mom's when she died:)
Veronica A.
21:09 23 Mar 26
I went for a LASIK consultation at Diamond Vision but was diagnosed with Keratoconus. They didn’t bother referring me to a cornea surgeon; they just said it wasn’t safe to do LASIKI googled & found that Dr Chynn is the only surgeon adding LASEK to CXL, so I’d see better afterwards, instead of only “not worse”He accepted my insurance for the CXL & I had to pay a few thousand dollars for his special noncutting LASEK procedure. But I thought it was worth that to see betterNow 2 months after my surgery, I’m seeing even better than I was in glasses or contacts!Anyone who has KC & needs CXL, or anyone who can’t get LASIK should see Dr Chynn. So you can meet your desire to see BETTER, instead of just “not worse”
Keren A.
17:39 10 Feb 26
I had very bad vision and now can see fantastic 🤗I had a high prescription (-11) and a retinal tear, and Dr. Chynn took great care of me. Highly recommend LASEK Park Ave.
Nataliya L.
23:29 23 Jan 26
i had an extreme Rx of -12! so i was past LASIK parameters. my dad did a lot of research so figired out that i COULD get the non-cutting LASEK. i’m now 2 months out & legal to drive day or night. before my LASEK without my glasses, i could only see shapes, i wouldn’t even be able to see the big E. so anyone who was told that they can’t get LASIK should see if they might be able to get LASEK!;)
Nick F.
23:13 10 Dec 25
Dr. Chynn is excellent. I’ve been wearing reading glasses for awhile and now I’ll never need to wear them again. I’ll refer all my children, family and friends. Safest center in NYC!
Keral K.
22:15 10 Dec 25
I’m so happy that I discovered this place ! I got rid of my reading glasses which I didn’t know was possible. I’ll never need to wear reading glasses again. This was safe and not painful. I’d recommend it to any of my friends and family. Thank you DrChynn!
Curry P.
21:58 10 Dec 25
I’m in ortho-k lenses because that’s common in China so I came here for new ones. I lost a lens so they gave me a replacement soft lens for free. Eventually I’ll just get LASEK & forget about those lenses forever
Zhang Y.
20:22 10 Dec 25
Dr Chynn is clearly a very brilliant surgeon with a deep understanding of his field. I've struggled with redness in both eyes for many years, but one in particular has caused me more issues. Constantly gets inflamed at many different times every day, and when very red can be quite embarrassing. Dr Chynn seemed to be the only surgeon able to safely address red veins on the conjunctiva. I only had one area treated, I wasn't looking for perfection, only improvement, and it has definitely improved. Procedure is relatively quick - less than 30 minutes maybe - and didn't hurt due to the numbing drops. Would definitely recommend Dr Chynn if this problem really bothers you.
Rob
03:12 12 Nov 25
Dr Chynn is the best, he is most experienced and knowledgeable person, I ever meet. He is a wonderful person to work with.
Jignesh K.
21:35 03 Nov 25
So, I'm going to make this a comprehensive review so everyone knows what they're walking into. Firstly, without a doubt if you are choosing park avenue lasek you are doing so because you have an opportunity to work with the world's best eye surgeon. Dr Chynns credentials speak for themselves, let alone the fact his innovations mean in the 21st century we have access to an eye surgery procedure (LASEK) that covers any concern anyone might have had about traditional lasik, or the arduous healing time of regular prk.I had my lasek procedure a month and a week ago. My left eye is doing great, and my right needs some further correction. Is this a problem? No. I get free corrections for a whole year. The post-op care is beyond belief, any time and day of the week, I have a question or concern I've been answered by Dr Chynn or the sweet and amazing Dr D. Dr Chynn, figured out on my post op follow up yesterday I needed cautery as my eyes were losing tears (puncta was too large) - leading to very dry eyes. He did my right eye totally free of charge, and for the first time in years I woke up with a normal feeling right eye.Is it scary if your eye isn't perfectly corrected first time round? Yes. But, the service here covers that, and I know I'm going with the best procedure possible on the market in 2025. There are some concerns in negative reviews about how Dr chynn treats his staff. I'll just say that no doubt Dr Chynn is a total taskmaster and is meticulous about how his office is run. And is definitely wry and exacting in character, But, if you want to trust someone with your eyes, wouldn't you want to have someone be totally on top of their shit?All the staff in the office are lovely, Dr D is the yin to Dr Chynns yang, and divine has been the sweetest person to correspond with at the front desk.Looking forward to my final correction next month and thanks to the whole team for their care!BestGeorge
George W.
15:04 31 Oct 25
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