LASIK Overview
LASIK eye surgery is the best known and most commonly performed laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) can be an alternative to glasses or contact lenses. During LASIK surgery, a special type of cutting laser is used to precisely change the shape of the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of your cornea to improve vision. In eyes with normal vision, the cornea bends (refracts) light precisely onto the retina at the back of the eye. But with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) or astigmatism, the light is bent incorrectly, resulting in blurred vision. Glasses or contact lenses can correct vision, but reshaping the cornea itself also will provide the necessary refraction.
Why LASIK surgery?
LASIK surgery may be an option for the correction of one of these vision problems:
Nearsightedness (myopia). When your eyeball is slightly longer than normal or when the cornea curves too sharply,
light rays focus in front of the retina and blur distant vision. You can see objects that are close fairly clearly, but not those that are far away.
Farsightedness (hyperopia). When you have a shorter than average eyeball or a cornea that is too flat, light focuses behind
the retina instead of on it. This makes near vision, and sometimes distant vision, blurry.
Astigmatism. When the cornea curves or flattens unevenly, the result is astigmatism, which disrupts focus of near and distant vision.
If you're considering LASIK surgery, you probably already wear glasses or contact lenses.
Dr. Keulder will talk with you about whether LASIK surgery or another similar refractive procedure is an option that will work for you.
What are the risks?
Complications that result in a loss of vision are very rare. But certain side effects of LASIK eye surgery, particularly dry eyes and temporary visual problems such as glare, are fairly common. These usually clear up after a few weeks or months, and very few people consider them to be a long-term problem. Risks of LASIK surgery include: dry eyes, glare, halos and double vision, undercorrections (more common for people who are nearsighted), overcorrections, astigmatism, flap problems, or regression. Rarely, surgical complications can result in loss of vision. Some people also may not see as sharply or clearly as previously.