What Is LASIK?
LASIK (Laser Assisted in-Situ Keratomileusis) is the most commonly performed laser vision correction procedure -- partly because of the lack of pain immediately afterward and partly because good vision is usually achieved by the very next day, if not before.

Who Can Benefit From LASIK?
Both nearsighted and farsighted people can benefit from LASIK surgery. With nearsighted people, the goal is to flatten the too-steep cornea; with farsighted people, a steeper cornea is desired. Also, excimer lasers can correct astigmatism by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.


What Happens During The LASIK Procedure?
LASIK is an ambulatory procedure; you walk in, have the procedure, and walk out again. In fact, the actual surgery usually takes less than a minute, and you're awake the whole time. We will give you a mild oral sedative is before surgery. Most people don't feel pain during LASIK surgery. Your eyes are first anesthetized with special drops. The doctor will have you lie down, then make sure your eye is positioned directly under the laser. (One eye is operated on at a time.)

An instrument called a microkeratome is used in LASIK eye surgery to create a thin, circular flap in the cornea. The doctor uses a computer to adjust the laser for your particular prescription. You will be asked to look at a target light for a short time while he or she watches your eye through a microscope to make sure it remains in the correct position while the laser sends cool pulses of light to your cornea that painlessly remove the tissue. The laser that is used at Downing-McPeak has eye tracking technology to ensure that the laser is focused on the exact spot it is needed. The higher your prescription, the more time the laser will take. It is usually less than a minute. The surgeon has full control of the laser and can turn it off at any time. After one eye is done, the doctor will move to the second eye if you're having both eyes done the same day.

After the second eye is done, you'll be escorted to an exam room to rest. (Most patients are shocked about how well they can see even at this point!) About 30 minutes after your surgery, the doctor will come and check your eyes to make sure everything looks good and then you'll go home. The doctor may prescribe medication for any post-operative pain, but many people feel no more than mild discomfort after LASIK surgery. You'll come back to the office the day after your surgery for a one-day post-op visit. The first few weeks after your surgery you'll need to be careful not rub your eyes or to do anything to dislodge the flap. You will continue to come back to the office for up to a year just to check on the progress of your surgery.