When the cornea is shaved, will its depth recover? If not, how much is permanently removed? How many corrections can I have? Will my cornea be "precariously" thin for the rest of my life?

Thanks!
-Jeff Y.

LASEK is a surface ablation technique. The outermost layer of cells of the cornea are disrupted and moved aside, the laser reshapes the cornea in the exposed area, then the epithelium is repositioned over the treated area. The tissue removal is permanent.
Because the tissue removal is on the outer layer of the cornea, the amount of untouched cornea – and thereby the amount of cornea that adds stability – is maximized.

For about five decades it has been affirmed that a healthy cornea will remain stable if at least 250 microns of tissue remain untouched. More is always better. Some doctors prefer to not go below 300 microns and there are always anomalies, but the 250 micron “rule” has remained valid.

Before surgery a good doctor would measure the thickness of your corneas, determine the amount of tissue to be removed, and calculate to verify that you would have enough residual cornea to remain stable.

Depending upon your individual circumstances, your cornea after LASEK may be thicker than some peoples’ cornea without surgery. These are all issues to discuss with your surgeon.

Glenn Hagele
http://www.USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.