What You Should Know About LASIK
 LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most advanced of all the refractive surgical procedures and is used to treat most refractive errors. First performed for vision correction in 1991, it combines the excimer laser with the first part of another procedure called Automated Lamellar Keratectomy, commonly referred to as ALK. Because of the excimer laser, this procedure has a high degree of predictability. In the first part of the procedure, a thin flap of corneal tissue is created and moved over as though on a hinge. Next, the computer driven excimer laser is used to reshape the underlying tissue. Finally, the surface layer is repositioned.
LASIK takes about 15 minutes to complete and is painless. With LASIK, both eyes are typically treated in the same session. Vision usually recovers quickly and there is generally minimal discomfort following the procedure. Most patients return to a normal lifestyle within a day. |
