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LASIK ( Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis )

A laser-assisted procedure to correct refractive errors that reduce the ability to focus ( refract light ).

State-of-the-art LASIK is virtually painless and is an effective means of correcting specific types and degrees of vision correction.

Vision parameters apply and your doctor will determine your candidacy for effective correction.

How Does It Work?

To obtain proper vision, light passes through the cornea and the lens and results in a perfect focus on the retina. Unfortunately, vision rarely remains perfect throughout one’s lifetime. For many people, light will come to a focus in front of the retina. In other eyes, the light just isn't focused strongly enough. Although the retina may be perfectly healthy, it may be the light reaching the retina that is the problem.

With the LASIK procedure, your Ophthalmologist will use an extremely precise laser to reshape the cornea of your eye in order to bring the light back into focus.

To begin the procedure, a corneal flap is created to prepare the eye for the second step. Using the IntraLase method, the corneal flap is created by applying tiny, rapid pulses of laser light. (Creating a flap using a blade is the microkeratome method) With Intralase, each pulse of light passes through the top layers of your cornea and forms a microscopic bubble at a specific depth and position within your eye that is determined by the doctor. As the IntraLase® laser moves back and forth across your eye, a uniform layer of bubbles forms just below the corneal surface. Your doctor creates your corneal flap by gently separating the tissue where these bubbles have formed. The unique way the IntraLase creates this flap results in a precisely positioned and smooth, even surface. The corneal flap is then folded back so the doctor can perform the second, vision-correcting step of your LASIK treatment, using an excimer laser.

To correct nearsightedness (myopia), The laser is used to flatten the central corneal surface, enabling light to focus on the retina

To correct farsightedness (hyperopia), The laser is used to flatten the peripheral or outer edge of the cornea, causing the central portion to steepen and increase its power

To correct astigmatism, The laser is used to selectively reshape some portions of the cornea, flattening the steeper areas in an elliptical pattern

Are You a Good Candidate for LASIK?

A professional consultation is essential to help you decide whether LASIK is right for you. Several important factors influence your Ophthalmologist's recommendation. These include:

1. Your Age — In the United States, treatment is performed on patients aged 21 or older. If you do not meet the lasik age requirement, you might also consider Bausch & Lomb PureVision contact lenses or Vision Shaping Treatment™ (VST) as an alternative if you do not meet the LASIK age requirements.
2. Your Condition — LASIK treats most refractive errors, however, LASIK cannot correct eye diseases, such as glaucoma or cataracts, or presbyopia (the need for bifocals)
3. Your Degree of Myopia — Myopia treatment is generally advisable only up to -12 diopters. Older patients most likely will sacrifice some near vision in exchange for dramatically improved distance vision
4. Your Degree of Hyperopia — Treatment is generally advisable for hyperopia only up to +6 diopters
5. Your Degree of Astigmatism — LASIK to treat astigmatism up to 4 diopters.
6. The Stability of Your Refractive Error — The refractions listed above should be within 0.50 diopters of your old prescription from the previous year