What is LASIK?

Laser vision correction reduces or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses by reshaping the eye’s cornea. LASIK is an acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis.

For over 25 years, the surgical correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism was achieved with incisions into the cornea. In the early 1980s, it was discovered that using lasers vastly improved the precision and healing time of surgical vision correction.

LASIK reshapes the cornea, the clear dome of tissue covering the iris of the eye. Abnormalities in the shape of the cornea cause focusing problems that require glasses or contacts to correct. Laser vision correction gently reshapes the cornea to correct these abnormalities, enabling light to focus correctly on the retina, as in a normal eye. The procedure eliminates or reduces the need for artificial correction.

About the LASIK Procedure

LASIK is the most common form of laser vision correction and can treat a higher range of vision errors than other forms of laser surgery. Because the LASIK procedure reshapes the cornea beneath a protective layer of tissue rather than at the corneal surface, as in other surgeries, there is less corneal surface area to heal, less risk of scarring or corneal haze, and less postoperative discomfort and need for medications. Also, vision returns more rapidly, often within a day or two.

The laser procedure takes approximately 5-15 minutes, with the actual laser treatment taking less than 1 minute for each eye. However, you should plan to spend between 2-3 hours in our office on the day of the treatment to allow for pre-testing and preparation time. There is little if any discomfort during the procedure. Healing is rapid and most patients are able to return to their normal activities the very next day. There are no physical restrictions during recovery.

Extensive FDA studies of laser vision correction have shown an excellent level of relative safety and effectiveness. After a LASIK procedure most patients are able to pass a drivers’ licensing test without their glasses or contact lenses.

What Occurs During the LASIK Procedure?

First, the surgeon uses a high-precision instrument called a microkeratome to create a thin flap on the surface of your eye. The surgeon’s skill and experience during this step is vitally important, since the quality of the flap is decisive in determining the success of the procedure’s outcome.

Next, the surgeon carefully guides the excimer laser to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the cornea, thereby creating a new corneal shape. This new shape, designed to correct the eye’s refractive error, is predetermined for each eye by extensive measurements taken during your pre-surgical exam. During this laser sculpting process, a clicking sound can be heard as each layer of tissue is vaporized.

Lastly, the flap is replaced in its original position and allowed to dry briefly in order to begin the natural bonding process. No stitches are necessary.

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