LASEK versus LASIK

   LASEK is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea using an excimer laser to ablate a small amount of tissue from the front of the eye, just under the eye's outer layer or epithelium. Unlike LASIK, in which the epithelium is not removed from the corneal flap, the epithelium is kept off the eye during the procedure and replaced afterward to act as a natural bandage.

  Because it does not involve a knife / microkeratome /or cutting laser as used in LASIK, the cornea's stability is left virtually unaffected, but there is more pain and visual recovery is slower than with the latter procedure. Like PRK, LASEK does not run the risk of dislocated corneal flaps which may occur infrequently with trauma even years after LASIK.