LASIK (Laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) is a refractive surgical procedure that results in rapid recovery of vision and has the capability to benefit patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reducing dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses. Millions of people worldwide have already undergone this exciting and marvelous procedure. Nearly a million people in the U.S. underwent LASIK in 1999 and approximately 1.3 million underwent the procedure in 2000. The great majority of individuals who wear glasses or contacts may now benefit from LASIK. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.

LASIK is a procedure in which the eye surgeon creates a thin surface flap of the cornea using a microkeratome to expose underlying tissues (stromal bed). It is within the deeper layers of the cornea that the surgeon then applies the Excimer laser beam to create the refractive ablation. This reshapes the cornea using the extraordinary precision of the Excimer laser.

The laser is programmed prior to each procedure for the ablative "cut" based on the patient's pre-operative refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism). Once the laser ablation is completed, the surgeon gently replaces the corneal surface flap to restore surface integrity of the eye. It's as if the refraction is "ground in" to the middle layers of the cornea! The results are often dramatic and very rapid, with most patients seeing well enough to drive a car without correction the very next day. However, the best post-operative visual acuity may not be obtained until 2 to 3 weeks, or in some cases, even a few months, after the procedure.