Originally Posted by
Red Ketchup
IK weakens the cornea FOR LIFE
The "flap" cut by the micro-Keratome will ONLY heal on the surface, but the structure of the cornea never EVER heals (you'd go blind if it did!). Basically the flap sticks back to the cornea and heals on the surface around the cut... but inside it stays cut.
Now in most cases this is no big deal. Main reason being that any blow or trauma to your eye severe enough to rip the flap open after it has healed periferally would destroy your eye anyways.
The BIG problem with IK is that there is no long term info on what will happen 25-30 years down the road when you need catarac surgery (from old age), or when your eyes degrade with age...
EK does have a much steeper healing curve than IK and it's a lot more long term work for the Opthalmologist, but most LASIK "chop shops" push the IK procedure as it's less work for them, less support, and a lot quicker (so they can pack in that extra 2-3 clients that day).
If I had to do it again, it'd go with EK with NO hesitation.
Red
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