LASIK


LASIK - Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis

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Refractive Error Correction

  • Myopia - Nearsightedness or short sightedness.  This is corrected by flattening the front surface of the eye using a laser.
  • Hyperopia - Long sightedness or farsightedness.  This is corrected by making the central cornea steeper.  This is accomplished by directing the laser beam to remove tissue from around this area.
  • Astigmatism - This is corrected by using a laser to reshape the steepest part of the cornea to make it more spherical.

LASIK is by far the most common type of laser eye surgery but may not be suitable for extreme corrections as the procedure may make the cornea thin and therefore unstable.  Visit the Find page, to find a laser eye surgery jclinic/eye surgeon near you, to find out more about LASIK eye surgery and if LASIK surgery is suitable for you.

In this Laser Eye Surgery Guide you can read about the benefits of LASIK, the cost of the procedure, together with the side effects of laser eye surgery, the risks involved and much more. 

LASIK Surgery Procedure

The LASIK laser eye surgery procedure usually takes around one hour to complete and overnight stay is not required.  Both eyes can be operated on at the same time.  You will remain awake throughout the procedure as only a local anaesthetic is used, thus you will remain fully conscious and be able to see out of the treated eye(s), although vision may be blurred.     

You will be required to lie down on a reclining chair.  Local anaesthetic drops are then put into the eyes to numb the whole eye area.  This may cause some discomfort and cause the eye to sting for a few seconds.  The eye area is then usually cleansed with an antibacterial wash. An eyelid holder is placed on the eye, to hold the eyelid open. 

A ring is placed on the eye and pressure placed, in order to create suction on the cornea.  A red or green light may be seen and you may be asked to focus on this through the procedure. 

A flap is made on the surface of the cornea using a microkeratome blade, which is then lifted to access the corneal tissue underneath (in a more advanced form of LASIK surgery, the flap on the cornea, is cut with a laser, see Intralase).  The exposed tissue is then dried and the excimer laser placed into position.  The shape of the cornea is then altered using the laser to remove corneal tissue.  The laser will be preset to your specific measurements and this part of the procedure is wholly computerised.  It is this reshaping of the cornea, which improves vision.  A clicking noise and a smell similar to that of burning hair, can be noticed when the laser is at work.  Once the correct amount of tissue is vaporised, the flap is replaced and bonds naturally back to the cornea within a minute.  Laser eye surgery does not require stitches. 

You will be discharged shortly after the procedure and will be given aftercare and a follow up appointment may be made.

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LASER EYE SURGERY

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