Short-Sightedness
For short-sighted patients, LASEK flattens the cornea so that distant objects come into focus. It is a popular way to reduce dependence on distance glasses for driving, sport and everyday life.
LASEK · Surface laser treatment
LASEK Eye Surgery in Newcastle upon Tyne
Laser Eye Surgery Newcastle offers LASEK eye surgery to patients across Newcastle upon Tyne who want to reduce their reliance on glasses or contact lenses, but who may not be suited to LASIK. It is a surface laser treatment that reshapes the cornea without creating a deeper flap.
LASEK is often recommended for people with thinner corneas, or for those whose work or sport carries a higher risk of eye injury. Request a free, no-obligation quote to find out whether LASEK could be the right choice for your eyes.
- Surface treatment, no LASIK-style flap
- Often suits thinner corneas
- Free, no-obligation quote
About LASEK
What Is LASEK Eye Surgery?
LASEK stands for laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy. Like other types of laser eye surgery, it corrects vision by reshaping the cornea so that light focuses accurately on the retina.
How LASEK Differs From LASIK
With LASIK, a thin flap is cut into the cornea. LASEK works on the surface instead. The epithelium, the very thin outer layer of the cornea, is loosened with a mild alcohol solution and moved aside, and the laser then treats the tissue directly beneath it.
Why Choose a Surface Treatment?
Because no deeper flap is created, more of the cornea's structure is left untouched. This can make LASEK a sensible option when the cornea is too thin for LASIK, or when a flap could be knocked out of place by a blow to the eye.
Conditions treated
Eyesight Problems LASEK Can Correct
LASEK treats the same refractive errors as LASIK, and suitable patients can achieve comparable long-term results. Your assessment will confirm what can be corrected for your eyes.
Long-Sightedness
Certain long-sighted prescriptions can be treated with LASEK. How much correction is possible depends on your age, your eye measurements and the strength of your prescription.
Astigmatism
LASEK can smooth an unevenly curved cornea to correct astigmatism, usually at the same time as treating short- or long-sightedness.
Suitability
Who Is LASEK Suitable For?
LASEK is often the right choice for people who have been told they are not ideal candidates for LASIK. It is not automatically suitable for everyone, however, so Laser Eye Surgery Newcastle always arranges a full assessment first.
Patients With Thinner Corneas
Corneal thickness is one of the most important measurements in laser eye surgery. Because LASEK does not use a deeper flap, it can sometimes treat corneas that are too thin for LASIK. Your surgeon will calculate how much tissue would remain after treatment to make sure the cornea stays strong and healthy.
Active Lifestyles and Higher-Risk Jobs
If you box, play rugby or martial arts, or work in the police, armed forces or another physical role, LASEK removes the small risk of a flap being dislodged by a knock to the eye.
Eye Health Requirements
You will also need a stable prescription, a healthy tear film and no active eye disease. Conditions such as keratoconus or significant dry eye may rule treatment out, and pregnancy or breastfeeding may mean waiting a little longer.
Treatment day
What Happens During LASEK Treatment
LASEK is carried out as a day procedure under local anaesthetic eye drops. You are awake throughout but should not feel pain.
Preparing the Eye
Your eyes are numbed with drops and your eyelids are held gently open. A diluted alcohol solution loosens the surface layer, which is then carefully moved aside.
Laser Reshaping
The excimer laser reshapes the cornea according to your treatment plan. The laser stage is brief, usually under a minute for each eye.
Protective Contact Lens
A soft bandage contact lens is placed over the eye to protect the surface while it heals. You go home with eye drops, pain relief advice and clear aftercare instructions.
Recovery
LASEK Recovery Time and Aftercare
LASEK recovery takes longer than LASIK recovery because the surface of the eye needs time to heal. Knowing what to expect makes it much easier to plan.
The First Three to Five Days
Discomfort, watering, light sensitivity and blurred vision are common while the surface regrows. Prescribed drops and pain relief help, and the bandage lens is removed at a follow-up appointment.
Clearer Vision Over the Following Weeks
Most people notice a clear improvement within the first week. Your vision then continues to sharpen and stabilise over the following weeks, and sometimes a little longer.
Returning to Work and Driving
Around a week off work is typical after LASEK. Do not drive until your clinician confirms that your vision meets the legal standard, and avoid swimming, dusty places and eye make-up until you are advised it is safe.
Making an informed choice
LASEK Benefits and Risks
Benefits of LASEK
LASEK offers effective laser correction without a deeper corneal flap. That can open up treatment for people with thinner corneas, and it avoids flap-related risks for people in contact sports or physical jobs.
Possible Risks
Recovery is slower and more uncomfortable than with LASIK. Dry eyes, glare, halos, under-correction and over-correction can occur, and corneal haze occasionally develops during healing. Serious complications are rare, and your surgeon will explain every risk before you decide.
Pricing
How Much Does LASEK Cost in Newcastle?
The cost of LASEK depends on your prescription, whether one or both eyes are treated and what aftercare is included. Laser Eye Surgery Newcastle provides an individual written quotation so you know the full price before you commit.
Your initial LASEK quote is free and comes with no obligation. A detailed written quotation follows your assessment. As routine vision correction, LASEK is paid for privately rather than through the NHS.
What Your LASEK Quote Includes
Your quotation should clearly show whether it covers:
- your consultation and eye measurements
- LASEK treatment for one or both eyes
- the bandage contact lens and prescribed medication
- follow-up appointments while your eyes heal
It is also worth asking how any further treatment would be charged, so you can compare options fairly.
Common questions
LASEK Eye Surgery FAQs
Is LASEK more painful than LASIK?
The procedure itself is not painful, but the first few days afterwards are usually more uncomfortable than with LASIK because the surface of the eye is healing. Prescribed drops and pain relief help a great deal.
Are LASEK results as good as LASIK?
For suitable patients, long-term results can be comparable. The main differences are the recovery time and the way the cornea is treated.
How long should I take off work after LASEK?
Around a week is typical, although it depends on your job and how quickly your eyes heal.
Compare treatments
Other Laser Eye Surgery Options
Next step
Request Your Free LASEK Quote
If LASEK sounds like the right option, Laser Eye Surgery Newcastle can help you take the next step. Request your free, no-obligation quote, and we will arrange an assessment to confirm whether LASEK suits your eyes.