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Asian Eyes Are Different
Dr. Fong has the largest Asian patient base on the East Coast and likely the United States and has performed the most number of Asian LASIK procedures in the country.
Tighter Lids
The space between the upper and lower lids in Asians is much tighter. For the initial step in LASIK, a special machine called a flapmaker is used. The machine is used on the eye and cuts a flap on the cornea that will then be lifted up. Since the lids are tighter, there is less room to fit the machine, and in many instances, great care or special techniques must be employed to complete this step in Asian patients.
Smaller Cornea Diameter
The cornea is the clear part of the eye, akin to the crystal covering the watch face. A flap is cute on the cornea. In LASIK, care has to be taken so that not too large a flap is cute since this will result in bleeding, slower healing, and more dryness. At the same time, the centration of the cut becomes even more crucial because of the smaller diameter of the flap that is cut.
Thinner Corneas
Many Asians have thinner cornea than Caucasians. The depth of the flap that is cut and the level of the lacer ablation all have to be carefully measured and controlled to ensure that the eye is not weakened.
Higher Myopia
Many Asians have higher levels of myopia combined with thin corneas. That means that a number of Asians may not be candidate for LASIK unless only certain flapmaker and/or certain lasers are used.
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