LASIK eye surgery can possibly remove the need for glasses or contact lenses. Before the procedure, numbing eye drops are placed in the eye and an eyelid speculum is placed. The doctor marks the eye with a special marker, aligns the eye with the laser, and creates a flap in the cornea. LASIK eye surgery reshapes the cornea so that light rays bend at the correct angle to focus images on the retina.
LASIK Eye Surgery: An Overview
LASIK, which is short for laser in-situ keratomileusis, is a voluntary laser procedure that permanently reshapes the cornea of your eye in an attempt to correct your vision.
The goal of LASIK surgery is to lessen and, in many cases, eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses. LASIK is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the world for vision correction.
This article about LASIK eye surgery will discuss the actual procedure. Other articles from the eMedTV library discuss other LASIK topics, such as:
Preparing for LASIK Eye Surgery
When ready, a healthcare provider will begin preparing your eye for surgery.
To help reduce the chance of infection, the skin around your eye will be cleaned with a special solution. This may feel a little cool and wet.
A series of numbing eye drops will be placed in your eye. Once your eye is numb, a clear plastic eyelid drape may be placed over the eyelid that will be operated on, and the other eye may be covered with a plastic eye shield.
An eyelid speculum -- an instrument used to open the eye for better viewing - will then be placed. Although your eye is numb, you may feel pressure on your eyelids. However, you will not feel that your eye is getting dry from not blinking. Most patients quickly get used to this sensation.
Finally, your healthcare provider will mark your eye using a specially designed marker. You may feel some pressure while this happens.
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