Lasik Surgery - How It Is Carried Out

Lasik is a procedure that involves using a laser to change the shape of your cornea, which is the clear covering over the front of your eye.

Lasik Surgery is carried out on people with the following eye problem;

Short-sightedness (myopia) occurs when the cornea is too curved, so light rays focus in front of the retina. Close objects may be clear, but distant objects become blurred. LASIK can make the center of the cornea flatter by removing more tissue from the center than from the edge.

Long-sightedness (hyperopia) occurs when the cornea is too flat, so light rays focus beyond the retina. Vision is blurred for both near and far objects. This procedure can make the center of the cornea more curved by removing more tissue from the edge than from the center.

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is curved irregularly, so light rays focus at several points instead of one. The eye is unable to focus evenly. LASIK surgery corrects the shape of the cornea.

Before the procedure begins, local anaesthetic is used to numb your eye. This can be given as drops or as an injection. A special frame is put over your eye to prevent you from blinking. A highly precise instrument, microkeratome is used to make an ultra-thin flap in the cornea. The flap is opened so that the laser can be used to shape the cornea underneath.

The Excimer laser, computer-controlled laser will remove precisely the right amount of corneal tissue. The flap is repositioned and seals to the cornea within minutes. Stitches are not needed. Antibiotic eye drops will be put in your eye as a precaution to prevent infection. After the procedure, your eye may be covered with a protective dressing.