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Biotech / Medical : VISX -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: moat who wrote (1100)	5/15/1999 2:42:00 PM
From: Donschw	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1754

RK (radial keratotomy) is a procedure performed by hand where the peripheral cornea is cut deeply in a radial manner (like clock hours). These incisions weaken the peripheral cornea enough to flatten the center part of the cornea to decrease nearsightedness (myopia). The excimer lasers are used commonly in two ways: either PRK (photorefractive Keratectomy)or LASIK (laser assisted in situ keratomeleusis). Both of these methods use the laser to ablate, or remove, corneal tissue to change its shape directly. If the procedure is performed after removal of the epithelium (the outside layer), it is PRK. If a thin slice of cornea is made (deeper than the epithelium) with a microkeratome most of the way across the cornea and folded back and then the laser is used on this inner part of the cornea it is LASIK. The slice (or flap) is then replaced over the lasered portion of the cornea. More and more patients wish the LASIK because of faster recovery time to return to work etc., but both PRK and LASIK use the excimer laser. DS