LASIK Eye Surgery: Step-by-Step Guide to Vision Correction

Procedure Overview

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) corrects myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism by reshaping the cornea.

Steps

1. Preoperative Evaluation: Corneal topography, pachymetry, wavefront aberrometry, pupil size, tear film, refraction stability. Exclude keratoconus, severe dry eye, thin corneas.
2. Anesthesia: Topical anesthetic drops (proparacaine/tetracaine).
3. Flap Creation: Femtosecond laser (bladeless) or mechanical microkeratome cuts a hinged flap (~100–120 µm thick).
4. Stromal Ablation: Excimer laser (193 nm) removes precise tissue per wavefront-optimized or topography-guided algorithm. Flatten cornea (myopia), steepen (hyperopia), regularize (astigmatism).
5. Flap Repositioning: Flap laid back; adheres naturally (no sutures).
6. Postoperative: Shield/goggles; antibiotic/steroid drops; lubricants. Vision improves over days–weeks.

Key Success Factors

• Experienced surgeon (fellowship-trained corneal/refractive).
• Modern femtosecond + excimer platform.
• Careful patient selection (stable refraction ≥1 yr, adequate corneal thickness, realistic expectations).