JOEUNNUN VISION CLINIC

How Can I Tell If My Vision Is Regressing after Vision Correction Surgery? After vision correction surgery, some patients may experience a gradual decline in their corrected vision—this is called regression. While vision correction doesn’t have an expiration date, regression can still occur. It most commonly happens within 1 to 2 years after surgery, rather than decades later. What Causes Vision Regression After Surgery? Regression is more likely when a large correction is needed—especially in cases of high myopia or astigmatism. Another common cause is poor compliance with post-operative care, such as skipping anti-inflammatory eye drops that help stabilize the cornea. If regression occurs, LASEK patients are typically re-treated with LASEK. For LASIK patients, there are two options: 1. Re-lift the original corneal flap for another LASIK procedure (if the flap is still suitable). 2. If too much time has passed or the flap is not stable, LASEK is used instead for re-treatment. ...

Does LASIK or LASEK Cause Dry Eyes? Some people believe that undergoing LASIK or LASEK leads to dry eyes. However, wearing contact lenses is actually more likely to cause dry eyes than having LASIK or LASEK surgery. However, due to the reduction of tear production after LASIK and LASEK, some degree of dryness can still occur. What’s The Difference Between LASIK and LASEK? LASIK surgery involves creating a corneal flap, while LASEK removes the corneal epithelial layer to reshape the cornea with laser. Both procedures can result in some damage to the corneal nerves. When your eyes become dry, they trigger a reflex that stimulates tear production. For this mechanism to function properly, the corneal nerves must be intact. However, if these nerves are damaged during LASIK or LASEK, the eye’s ability to respond to dryness can be impaired. This is considered a complication related to tear function after the surgery. The dry eye symptoms can differ between LASIK and LASEK. After LASIK, dry ey...

 Is It Better to Get LASIK or LASEK During Military Service? Ideally, it’s best to undergo the surgery before military. Military life involves intense physical activity and training, which can be inconvenient when wearing glasses. Having vision correction surgery beforehand makes daily life in the military much easier. SMILE is recommended 1–2 weeks before enlistment, LASIK about 1 month prior, and LASEK at least 3–6 months prior. If you plan to use a short vacation for surgery, SMILE is the best option due to its quick recovery and minimal postoperative care.   LASIK requires about a month of caution due to the corneal flap, and LASEK involves long-term eye drop use. For a more comfortable military experience, SMILE surgery is highly recommended. Is It Safe to Undergo CBR Training after Vision Correction Surgery? During CBR training, tear gas primarily affects the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the eye. It rarely reaches the deeper corneal stroma, so as long as yo...

  Is it better to have larger pupils when getting vision correction surgery? In general, younger people tend to have larger pupils. As we age, especially into our 40s and 50s, pupil size tends to get smaller than the average. Sometimes, it feels like your vision improves when you squint. This is because larger pupils allow more unnecessary light to enter the eye, which can reduce visual clarity. By squinting, the action reduces the amount of light entering the eye, which can improve visual sharpness. Similarly, smaller pupils often result in higher visual quality. On the other hand, larger pupils can sometimes make vision feel slightly out of focus. Are large pupils a risk factor in vision correction surgery? In vision correction surgery, the “optical zone” refers to the area of the cornea that is actually reshaped. The entire cornea is not corrected — typically, only a 6 to 6.5 mm zone is corrected during surgery. If your pupils are too large, there may be overlap between the trea...

What are the effects of Intraocular Pressure (IOP) on our health? If the eye pressure increases too high, it can compress the optic nerve and disrupt blood circulation. As the pressure increases, the function of the optic nerve deteriorates, potentially leading to glaucoma. While high intraocular pressure doesn’t always result in glaucoma, it is one of the most significant factors for developing glaucoma. Is IOP examination required before surgery? IOP is carefully measured before surgery because even if the pressure is normal before surgery, it may appear lower afterward.   It is measured by applying air pressure to the eye and observing how much the eye deforms in response—this deformation varies depending on the actual pressure inside the eye. After LASIK surgery, the cornea becomes thinner, which can affect the accuracy of pressure measurements. Although the IOP was normal before surgery, the thinner cornea can cause the measurement to appear falsely low, leading to the mistak...

People often worry about possibility of glaucoma after LASEK surgery. We will find out if this is true or not! Does LASEK Surgery Cause Glaucoma? LASEK surgery generally corrects vision and myopia. Most of people with myopia tend to have weak optic nerve. Even after undergoing LASEK surgery, LASEK cannot make optic nerve stronger. Therefore, the risk of glaucoma increases over time by people aging. It is recommended to do eye examination every two to three years. Patients have to use steroid eye drop for a long period in order to make vision stable, normally 3 months and 6 months for patients with high prescription.  Steroid eye drops has complications, including increased intraocular pressure which can cause glaucoma. It is crucial to use steroid eyedrops properly and control intraocular pressure. One major factor that contributes to the development of glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). People undergoing LASEK surgery may be prescribed steroid eye drops as part of th...

How is the Corneal Epithelium Removed? LASEK surgery involves removing the corneal epithelium. The most basic method is to use alcohol to loosen the corneal epithelium, making it easier to remove. Then, LASEK brush is used to gently rub and remove the epithelium. This process removes only the epithelium without causing abrasion on cornea. LASEK brush has a design similar to an electric toothbrush. When the rotating brush is applied to the eye, it gently removes the epithelium. Does LASEK brush nece ssary for surgery? There is a type of LASEK surgery that can be performed entirely with laser. The official name for this procedure is All-Laser LASEK With All-Laser LASEK, the surgery i s performed solely by the laser without the need for manual instruments.   Once the laser completes its process, the protective lens is applied to the eyes, and then the surgery is finished.   All-Laser LASEK is not only simple but also fast and precise. Is All-Laser LASEK the best option? Using a L...

Recovery Period of LASEK  LASIK and LASEK surgeries are vision correction procedures that use an excimer laser. In LASEK, the corneal epithelium is removed before applying the laser to corneal stroma.   The Recovery period for LASEK is longer compared to LASIK or Smile LASIK. Patients may experience pain for a few days after surgery and require consistent check up for several months. Since the surgery involves removing corneal epithelium, there is pain for about 3 to 4 days while epithelium regenerates. To reduce discomfort and aid epithelial healing, a corneal protective lens must be worn after LASEK Vision gradually improve over several weeks. It will takes a few weeks or months to reach maximum vision.   After about 3 to 4 days, vision typically improves enough to manage daily activities, though it may still appear slightly blurry. Depending on the amount of corneal tissue removed and the vision recovery, steroid eye drops must be used for 3 to 6 months to stabilize the co...