LASIK Eye Surgery

What Is LASIK Eye Surgery? - LASIK Treatment in India Explained

LASIK is a type of refractive surgery for correcting common vision problems. This short explains how the procedure works to reshape the cornea, the clear front part of the eye.

What LASIK corrects

LASIK is a laser procedure that reshapes your cornea to improve how your eye focuses light. It can be used to treat common refractive errors.

• Nearsightedness (myopia). This is when you can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects are blurry. LASIK can flatten the cornea to correct this.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia). This is when distant objects may be clear, but close objects appear blurry. The procedure can make the cornea steeper to fix this.
• Astigmatism. This causes blurry vision at all distances because of an irregularly shaped cornea. LASIK can smooth the cornea into a more regular shape.

The LASIK procedure

The surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis and takes less than 30 minutes for both eyes.

• Numbing the eye. Your surgeon uses anaesthetic eye drops to numb your eye. You remain awake and comfortable during the procedure.
• Creating a corneal flap. A special instrument creates a very thin, hinged flap on the surface of your cornea. This flap is then gently lifted.
• Reshaping the cornea. A computer-guided laser removes a precise amount of corneal tissue. This reshapes the cornea to correct your vision.
• Replacing the flap. The flap is laid back into its original position. It bonds to the underlying cornea without stitches and begins to heal immediately.

Suitability for LASIK

Not everyone is a suitable candidate for LASIK. An ophthalmologist will perform a detailed eye examination to check.

• Stable prescription. Your vision prescription should have been stable for at least one year before the surgery is considered.
• Corneal thickness. Your cornea must be thick enough to allow for the creation of the flap and the removal of tissue.
• Good eye health. You should not have other eye conditions like severe dry eye, advanced glaucoma, or cataracts.
• General health. Certain health conditions can affect the healing process. You should discuss your full medical history with the surgeon.

Whether LASIK is the right choice for you depends on your individual eye anatomy and health. A final decision can only be made after a specialist has reviewed your medical history and conducted a comprehensive eye examination.