Treating Astigmatism

Treating Astigmatism: Why LASEK Can Treat Astigmatism Better than LASIK or SMILE

Eliminate Your Astigmatism and See Clearly – Only at Park Avenue LASEK

Understanding Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common vision condition caused by an irregular shape of the cornea or lens, which leads to blurry or distorted vision. Instead of your cornea having a perfectly round shape like a basketball, it may be shaped more like a football. This uneven curvature means light entering your eye cannot focus properly on the retina, causing visual distortion.

Most people with a prescription higher than -3.00 have some level of astigmatism, but they might not have been made fully aware of it by their eye doctor or optometrist. Minor astigmatism is often left uncorrected in glasses or contacts, which means you might be seeing 20/25 instead of achieving the sharpest 20/20 vision. LASEK can correct all of your astigmatism, even those minor amounts that glasses or contacts may not fix. After our high-definition (HD) LASEK procedure, you could see better than you ever have with glasses or contacts.

Why LASEK is Superior to LASIK and SMILE for Correcting Astigmatism

Unmatched Safety

LASEK (Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy) offers a safer, more precise approach compared to LASIK and SMILE for treating astigmatism. Unlike LASIK, which involves creating a corneal flap, or SMILE, which requires cutting a lenticule from within the cornea, LASEK gently loosens the thin outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) using a mild alcohol solution. This approach helps maintain the natural structure of the cornea, reducing the risk of complications and making it a safer choice for many patients.

100% Non-Cutting and Minimally Invasive

LASEK is entirely non-cutting, which means there’s no risk of flap-related complications. Dr. Chynn is uniquely qualified to explain the advantages of LASEK, as he is the only surgeon in the world who has undergone both LASIK and LASEK personally. After experiencing dry eyes and night glare from his LASIK procedure (performed during his time at Harvard), Dr. Chynn went on to help develop the safer, non-cutting LASEK procedure—and even treated his own eye to prove its effectiveness. He is the only surgeon in the world to have done this.

Why LASIK Can’t Correct as Much Astigmatism as LASEK

Dr. Chynn has performed over 5,000 LASIK procedures between 1998 and 2004. By design, LASIK can treat a maximum of about 2.75 diopters of astigmatism. This is because LASIK involves reshaping the corneal tissue beneath a flap. When the flap is replaced after treatment, it may not always fully conform to the newly reshaped surface, partially masking the correction and limiting its effectiveness.

In contrast, LASEK is a “surface ablation” procedure. There is no flap to cut and replace, so nothing can obscure or interfere with the corrected shape of the cornea. This means that LASEK can effectively treat up to 6 diopters of astigmatism—double what can be treated with LASIK.

Why SMILE Isn’t Ideal for Correcting Astigmatism

While SMILE is marketed as a minimally invasive procedure, it involves cutting two incisions within the cornea and removing a piece of tissue called a lenticule. To correct astigmatism, the lenticule must be cut into a very specific, irregular shape, but there are limits to how accurately this can be done. Because of this limitation, SMILE can only correct up to 2 diopters of astigmatism—the same limitation as LASIK.

What Happens if Astigmatism Isn’t Fully Corrected?

If your astigmatism isn’t fully corrected with LASIK or SMILE, you may not achieve perfect 20/20 vision. The amount of residual astigmatism depends on your original prescription. For example, if you have 4 diopters of astigmatism, LASIK or SMILE might leave you with 1 diopter of residual astigmatism, which means your best possible vision may only be 20/25 or 20/30. In contrast, LASEK performed by Dr. Chynn can correct all of your astigmatism, helping you achieve clear 20/20 vision.

Achieve Clear, Sharp Vision: Choose LASEK for Astigmatism Treatment

When it comes to your vision, don’t settle for less. At Park Avenue LASEK, we believe in providing the safest and most effective treatments for our patients. LASEK offers the advantages you need to achieve clear, sharp vision—without the limitations that come with LASIK or SMILE.

Call us at (212) 741-8628 or fill out our online form to schedule your consultation today. With comprehensive insurance coverage and personalized care, your journey to clear vision starts here.