LASIK
(Laser in-Situ Keratomileusis)

LASIK combines the accuracy of the Excimer laser with the quick-healing characteristics of a procedure first performed in 1949 called Lamellar Keratoplasty. The primary difference between PRK and LASIK is that with PRK the excimer laser is applied to the cornea without making a flap; with LASIK a flap is made and treatment is done on the corneal tissue under the flap. Then the flap is put back into place, covering the area treated with the laser. This provides more comfort and quicker healing than PRK. Both LASIK and PRK have similar success rates.

During the procedure, a special device creates a hinged flap of thin corneal tissue, and the flap is gently folded out of the way. The laser reshapes the underlying tissue, and the surgeon replaces the corneal flap over the treated area where it bonds securely, without the need for stitches. With less surface area to heal than PRK, LASIK patients recover very quickly, and most experience little, if any, discomfort. Functional vision returns very rapidly, with the majority of patients seeing well enough to drive in a day or two without glasses or contact lenses.

Most patients elect to have LASIK performed on both eyes at the same time. To be a good candidate for LASIK, the cornea must be sufficiently thick to allow the flap to be made and still have sufficient tissue under the flap to allow the laser to remove enough tissue so that the desired visual correction can be achieved. Patients with severe dry eye syndrome, keratoconus, very thin corneas, or other conditions, such as the beginning stages of a cataract, may be better candidates for other refractive procedures.