LASIK

A long-lasting alternative to glasses and contact lenses, for the right eyes.

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), commonly called laser eye surgery or laser vision correction, is a type of refractive surgery for correcting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

The surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist, who uses a laser or microkeratome to reshape the cornea and improve visual acuity. For most people, LASIK provides a long-lasting alternative to glasses or contact lenses.

LASIK is most similar to two other corrective procedures, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and LASEK. All of them represent advances over radial keratotomy in the surgical treatment of refractive errors. For patients with moderate to high myopia, or with thin corneas that cannot be treated with LASIK or PRK, a phakic intraocular lens is an alternative.

Laser surgery uses a laser rather than a scalpel to cut tissue. Worldwide, tens of millions of LASIK procedures have been performed since 1991.

Is LASIK right for you?

That depends on your refractive error, your corneal thickness and the health of the rest of your eye. The only way to know is a refractive workup. We use a Schwind (Germany) LASIK machine — see our equipment list — and will tell you honestly if you are not a candidate.