How does Lasik work?

Lasik works in different ways depending on the condition of the eye. For nearsightedness, the cornea is too steep, so the laser flattens it into a less steep position. Far-sightedness is just the opposite, and the laser will make the cornea steeper. An astigmatism occurs when the cornea has an irregular shape, so the laser in this case will regulate it.

With Lasik, the doctor makes a thin cut in the cornea using either a very small blade or a laser. Then, the cut is pulled back and the doctor works to remove tissue from the cornea with the laser. The laser is adjusted by the doctor for the patient's prescription, and then the patient is instructed to watch a target of light while the laser reshapes the cornea based on the doctor's settings by sending pulses of light into the cornea.

Although it sounds like it has the potential to be painful, it is painless. While the patient is awake for the procedure, the doctor uses eye drops to completely numb the eye. The whole procedure takes approximately 5 minutes per eye, depending on the strength of the prescription-people who have worse eyesight might take a little longer.

Can everyone get Lasik?

Not everyone is a candidate for Lasik surgery. Anyone who is interested in it must first talk to their eye doctor and get a full eye exam to make sure there are no underlying problems. People who are not good candidates for Lasik include:

• Pregnant women, as the cornea often reshapes on its own during pregnancy.


• Medical conditions such as diabetes or glaucoma


• Eye diseases that involve the cornea or the retina


• People whose prescriptions change frequently. Most doctors will not do Lasik on anyone whose prescription has changed in the past year

Is Lasik risky?

Like all surgeries, there are risks involved with Lasik surgery, but risks with Lasik surgery are rare. Risks are lessened if the patient follows all of the doctor's orders and makes sure that he or she has had a full pre-operative check up to make sure they are a good candidate for Lasik surgery.

Even though it is estimated that 5% of people who get Lasik report long-lasting side effects or complications, those who do will typically experience either consistently dry eyes, double vision, or difficulty seeing at night.

Other complications may occur is the flap in the cornea (created by the laser) is not made correctly or if it heals poorly. This can result in the need to go back and get the surface of the cornea reshaped correctly.

For this reason, it is crucial that patients find a doctor who is FDA certified and licensed to do Lasik surgery. In addition, it is important to make sure the doctor is experienced with the procedure-the more the better.

Lasik surgery has helped millions of people to see clearly without the use of glasses or contacts. It is a common procedure that should be discussed with your doctor if you are interested in it.