How Does LASIK Work?

Candidates

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery helps those who need corrective lenses. By reforming the cornea, patients' vision return to normal, or close to normal. As a result, most patients no longer require glasses or contact lenses, though reading glasses may still occasionally be required. However, LASIK is not for everyone. The surgery can only correct vision within certain parameters, though technology is expanding the pool of potential candidates.

Evaluation

LASIK begins with an evaluation of your eye. Your vision must be stable and your eye in good health, according to the Mayo Clinic. The shape of the cornea and any irregularities are noted for the surgery. Your eye will be fully mapped, in a fashion similar to that of a topographical map, so that the surgical procedure can focus precisely on the tissue to be removed and enable your vision to return to normal.

LASIK

The surgery is quite short, approximately 30 minutes for most candidates. You lie back in either a chair on a gurney, depending on the surgeon, and numbing drops are applied to your eye. Your eye is then held open to avoid any blinking during the procedure. The surgeon places a tiny suction cup on your eye, which may cause your vision to dim. Then, using a very fine tool (either a laser or small blade), the surgeon cuts a flap (think of any onion peel being pared away) about the size of a contact lens to gain access to the cornea's surface.

Using a laser, the surgeon then reforms the cornea. You'll be asked to focus on a particular object or light; this ensures that your eye stays in the same position during the reshaping process. For nearsightedness, the cornea is slightly flattened. For farsightedness, the cornea is steepened, to allow light to focus on the retina. For astigmatism, the cornea is rounded. The flap is then closed, and left to heal without the aid of stitches.

You may smell a slightly off scent during the procedure, similar to hair being burned by a blowdryer. This is completely normal and is part of the process of the laser refacing the tissue on the cornea into its new shape. If surgical procedures make you nervous, you can request relaxing medications prior to the surgery. Most often, patients are given Valium.

Post Procedure

Immediately after LASIK, you may not have clear vision. This is completely normal. Take the prescribed pain medication (either in pill form or as eye drops). Guard your eye with a shield and plan to rest for the remainder of the day. You may need to wear the eye shield at night until your eye fully heals.

Your surgeon will schedule a series of follow-up appointments over the next six months to ensure that the surgery was successful. Most patients require a month or more for their vision to fully stabilize, according to the Mayo Clinic.