LASIK is now the vision correction procedure more popular in the United States. 90% of the eye surgery was made through LASIK. But that may soon be talk of a new procedure called SBK which is similar to LASIK and may be even better.
SBK (or “sub-Bowman’s keratomileusis”) is similar to LASIK, and generally is a procedure that largely reduces the problem of dry eyes (in addition to other problems).
Limitations of LASIK
Despite his high popularity and the success rate, LASIK has one constant: the persistent dry eye in some patients. In addition, in rare cases, after an operation LASIK, you can develop a serious complication called corneal ectasia, is a protrusion of the cornea forward, which in future would require a corneal transplant as a treatment.
Limitations of PRK
With PRK there is less risk of dry eye and ectasia. However, there are two factors that have always limited the popularity of PRK: discomfort after PRK surgery and recovery time (it may take a week or two before retrieving a vision acceptable to drive).
THE SBK
Some ophthalmologists and refractive surgeons (Stephen Slade, MD and Daniel Durri) have been the pioneers of a new refractive surgery procedure that is best features of LASIK and PRK. The new procedure, known as “outsourcing Bowman’s keratomileusis” or “SBK,” uses a femtosecond laser to create a corneal flap of the thinnest of what is obtained from a normal operation LASIK. SBK flaps are approximately 110 microns thick, whereas LASIK flaps are usually 120 to 160 microns thick.
The term “sub-Bowman’s” is used to describe the procedure itself, because the depth of the flap includes the bulk of the membrane of Bowman.