LASIK surgery is one type of refractive surgery. Refractive surgery can eliminate the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses in people with these conditions:
Nearsightedness
Farsightedness
Astigmatism (unevenly curved cornea)
Presbyopia (age-related loss of sharp close-up focusing)
Done on both eyes, these procedures work by changing the eyes' focus to improve vision.
The Excimer Laser Used in LASIK Surgery
The excimer laser is computer-controlled. It gives eye surgeons the ability to remove precise amounts of tissue from the surface of the eye. This provides a high degree of safety and precision for laser-assisted procedures like LASIK.
Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK Surgery or Other Refractive Procedures?
Everyone considering refractive surgery should make the decision only after meeting with a refractive surgeon. General requirements include:
Being age 18 or older
Having healthy eyes
Not needing a new eyeglass or contact lens prescription over the past year
Having vision that refractive surgery can correct
Most forms of refractive surgery cannot be done on people who:
Have a history of eye disease, including autoimmune disease, or previous eye injury
Take certain prescription medications known to affect vision or corneal healing
Are pregnant or nursing
How is LASIK Surgery Done?
LASIK is an abbreviation for "laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis." The steps of LASIK surgery include:
Eye numbing drops are given before surgery to prevent pain.
The eye surgeon creates a flap in the cornea.The flap is folded back to reveal the cornea's midsection (stroma).
The excimer laser vaporizes part of the stroma.
The corneal flap is put back in place. It reattaches within a few minutes without sutures.
Eye drops or ointment is applied to aid healing.
Implant Refractive Surgery
Several types of refractive surgery rely on implants to help improve vision. These procedures include the following:
Intrastromal corneal ring segment (INTACS) implants
Phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs)
Accommodative IOLs, multifocal IOLs, and refractive lens exchange
Each implant is described below.
Intrastromal corneal ring segment (INTACS) implants. Semicircular pieces of plastic are implanted in the cornea. These objects are called INTACS (intrastromal corneal ring segments). They change the cornea's shape and adjust the person's power to focus. INTACS are inserted through a small corneal incision. The incision is closed with two small sutures, or stitches, typically removed two to four weeks later. If necessary, INTACS can be removed. The cornea returns to its original shape within a few weeks.
Phakic IOLs. These are used for people whose degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness is too high for safe use of the excimer laser. The procedure is similar to cataract surgery except that the natural lens is not removed. The eye surgeon positions a vision-correcting plastic lens in front of the patient's natural lens, which is left in place to preserve reading vision. Because the eye is actually entered, phakic IOL surgery carries a higher risk of complications.
Accommodative IOLs, multifocal IOLs, and refractive lens exchange. These implants are used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and presbyopia. Vision-correcting, surgically implanted artificial lenses replace natural lenses. No corneal reshaping is done.
Recovery
Recovery from LASIK surgery is usually fast and painless. You may notice improved vision by the next day or sooner.