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Two LASIK surgeries compared

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Published: May 4, 2006 at 12:48 PM

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 4 (UPI) -- Femtosecond, or bladeless, and mechanical microkeratome LASIK surgeries have been found to have equal results six months post-surgery, finds a U.S. study.

LASIK, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, involves treating nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism by reshaping the eye's cornea to alter the way the eye refracts light.

It involves creating a flap, removing a defined amount of corneal tissue by an excimer laser and replacing the flap. In standard LASIK with a mechanical microkeratome, the flap is created by a blade; in bladeless LASIK, the newer type, the flap is created by a femtosecond laser.

"At six months after surgery, there are no differences between the eyes that had bladeless or microkeratome LASIK with respect to visual acuity -- vision as measured by reading an eye chart -- contrast sensitivity -- ability to discriminate bright objects from dark objects -- or in perception of stray light or glare, such as the glare from oncoming headlights," said study leader Dr. Sanjay Patel, a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist.

The study's findings will be presented next week at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

© 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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