LASIK, an acronym for Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, treats refractive errors by removing corneal tissue beneath the surface of the cornea. It is the procedure selected by most people seeking laser vision correction today due consistency of outcomes, along with the relative lack of pain, and the rapidity with which clear vision is obtained following the procedure. Though LASIK has only been performed in this country since 1996, it has been performed internationally since the early '90s.
LASIK involves the creation of a thin protective flap with the use of an instrument called a microkeratome and the precise application of predetermined amount of laser pulses to the underlying tissue to achieve the desired reshaping of the cornea. The cornea is made flatter to treat nearsightedness, steeper to treat farsightedness and/or more spherical to correct astigmatism. The flap is then laid back in position and naturally re-adheres.
