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February 9, 2012
The Cleveland Clinic

Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty Eye Surgery (ALK)

What is keratoplasty eye surgery?

Automated lamellar keratoplasty eye surgery, or ALK, is a surgical procedure used to correct vision in people with severe nearsightedness and mild degrees of farsightedness.

What Happens During Keratoplasty Eye Surgery?

Keratoplasty eye surgery, performed under local anesthesia, usually takes less than an hour to complete. A cutting device is used to make a small incomplete flap across the cornea. While still attached at one side, the corneal flap is folded back to reveal the layer of tissue below. Another, very precise cut is made on the sub layer of tissue based on the person's glasses' prescription. After this cut, the corneal flap is placed back over the eye where it reattaches.

What Are the Advantages of Keratoplasty Eye Surgery?

Compared to other vision repair surgeries:

  • The healing process for keratoplasty eye surgery is relatively quick
  • It takes less time for stable vision to return
  • Recovery period is more comfortable

What Are the Disadvantages of Keratoplasty Eye Surgery?

While keratoplasty eye surgery is a safe and effective surgery, it does have its disadvantages. They include:

  • For people with mild to moderate nearsightedness, keratoplasty eye surgery is not as accurate as other eye procedures, meaning that its outcome is more difficult to predict.
  • Keratoplasty eye surgery slightly increases a person's risk of developing an irregular astigmatism.

What Are the Potential Side Effects of Keratoplasty Eye Surgery?

Aside from the above-mentioned disadvantages, side effects, though rare, do occur. These may include:

  • Glare
  • Inability to wear contacts, sometimes permanently
  • Infection
  • Corneal scarring



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Keratoplasty Eye Surgery (ALK)

What is LASIK?

LASIK stands for laser in situ keratomileusis, which means using a laser underneath a corneal flap (in situ) to reshape the cornea (keratomileusis). This procedure utilizes a highly specialized laser (excimer laser) designed to treat refractive errors, improve vision, and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. This laser procedure alters the shape of the cornea, which is the transparent front covering of the eye. Though the excimer laser had been used for many years before, the development of LASIK is generally credited to Ioannis Pallikaris from Greece around 1991.

How does LASIK work?

During the LASIK procedure, a specially trained eye surgeon first creates a precise, thin hinged corneal flap using a microkeratome. The surgeon then pulls back the flap to expose the underlying corneal tissue, and then the excimer laser ablates (reshapes) the cornea in a unique pre-specified p...

Read the LASIK Eye Surgery article »




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