What Is Involved In LASIK?
LASIK is a surgical procedure that uses a laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. LASIK is a common alternative to another vision correction procedure entitled PRK (photorefractive keratectomy). In LASIK, a small portion of the cornea is lifted away from the eye first. To do this, a laser is used to painlessly create a flap using the outer layers of the cornea. This flap remains attached to the eye but is folded back on a small “hinge” that is not completely cut. This creates a “bed” on the cornea and the laser is then used to reshape this part of the eye.
How Long Does LASIK Take?
Typically, the laser portion of the procedure takes less than one or two minutes to complete. The flap is then repositioned over the front of the eye, checked for stability (no sutures used) and then the other eye is done in a similar fashion. The entire process generally takes less than 25 minutes for both eyes and you can leave shortly afterward. You can return to a normal lifestyle quickly, and there are very few restrictions during the healing period.
