What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK is a type of eye surgery that uses lasers to fix vision problems, specifically those caused by refractive errors. A refractive error is where your eye fails to bend light properly, distorting your vision. It can cause, for example, blurry vision, nearsightedness and farsightedness.

LASIK eye surgery is the best known and most commonly performed laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) can be an alternative to glasses or contact lenses.  During LASIK surgery, a special type of cutting laser is used to precisely change the shape of the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of your eye (cornea) to improve vision.  In eyes with normal vision, the cornea bends (refracts) light precisely onto the retina at the back of the eye. But with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) or astigmatism, the light is bent incorrectly, resulting in blurred vision.  Glasses or contact lenses can correct vision, but reshaping the cornea itself also will provide the necessary refraction.

What causes a refractive error?

A misshaped cornea causes a refractive error. Your cornea is the top, outermost layer of your eye and your lens is flexible tissue behind your iris (the circular membrane behind your cornea that, among other things, gives you your eye color). Your eye’s lens and cornea refract (bend) light onto your retina, which sends information to your brain. That information transforms into images.

How does LASIK eye surgery work?

Put simply, your ophthalmologist will change the shape of your cornea so that light hits your retina correctly. The procedure is performed by a laser.

What conditions get treated with LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK surgery may be an option for the correction of one of these vision problems:

•  Nearsightedness (myopia). When your eyeball is slightly longer than normal or when the cornea curves too sharply, light rays focus in front of the retina and blur distant vision. You can see objects that are close fairly clearly, but not those that are far away.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia). When you have a shorter than average eyeball or a cornea that is too flat, light focuses behind the retina instead of on it. This makes near vision, and sometimes distant vision, blurry.
• Astigmatism. When the cornea curves or flattens unevenly, the result is astigmatism, which disrupts focus of near and distant vision. If you're considering LASIK surgery, you probably already wear glasses or contact lenses. Your eye doctor will talk with you about whether LASIK surgery or another similar refractive procedure is an option that will work for you.

How common is LASIK eye surgery?

Out of all the laser treatments for refractive errors, LASIK is the most common. Over 40 million LASIK surgeries have been performed worldwide.

What kind of healthcare provider performs LASIK eye surgery?

Ophthalmologists perform LASIK eye surgeries. These specialists diagnose and treat vision problems. The same ophthalmologist who has been caring for your eyes might do your surgery.  

Your ophthalmologist might be joined by an optometrist, nurse, medical assistant and a technician.

How long does LASIK eye surgery last?

A LASIK eye surgery lasts less than 30 minutes. Be sure to have a friend or family member standing by to give you a ride home.

What happens before LASIK eye surgery?

Before LASIK surgery you and your ophthalmologist will have a conversation about how the procedure works and what to expect. Remember, LASIK will not give you perfect vision. You might still need glasses or contacts for activities like driving and reading. If you decide to have LASIK surgery, your ophthalmologist will do six tests to double check that you’re a good candidate. They’ll likely:  

• Check your pupil size.
• Measure your cornea’s surface and thickness.
• Measure the quality and amount of tears your eyes make (to check for dry eye).
• Measure the refractive error.
• Test to see if your vision has recently changed.
• Make sure that your eyes are generally healthy.

You’ll have to stop wearing contact lenses before you undergo these tests. Doing this will help your ophthalmologist get more accurate measurements of your cornea. How long you need to switch from contact lenses to glasses depends on the type of lenses you use:  

• Hard lenses: Four weeks.
• Soft lenses: Two weeks.
• Toric soft lenses or rigid gas permeable lenses: Three weeks.

Stop using the following products 24 hours before your surgery:  

• Perfumes.
• Makeup.
• Creams.
• Lotions.

Finally, be sure to have a family member or friend drive you home after the surgery. You will not be allowed to drive yet.

What happens during LASIK eye surgery?

The process of LASIK eye surgery can be divided into five steps:  

1. After you lie down flat, your ophthalmologist will use eye drops to numb your eyes. Although you won’t be in pain, you might feel pressure during the procedure. Patients have reported that the pressure is like a finger pressing against your eyelid.
2. Your surgeon will place an eyelid holder and suction ring on your eye. The holder will keep you from blinking and the ring will keep your eye from moving. Your vision will dim, or possibly go completely black.
3. Using a laser programmed with your eye measurements, your surgeon will make a flap as thin as a piece of paper in your cornea. They’ll then lift and fold that flap back, like turning the page of a book.
4. Next, your surgeon will ask you to stare at a light shining in your eye. Staring at it keeps your eyes from moving. The laser is used again, this time to reshape your cornea so that it refracts light better. The laser might make a clicking/ticking sound. You might smell the scent of burned hair. Finally, your ophthalmologist will fold the flap of tissue back down. It will start to heal quickly — settling into place within two to three minutes.

It’s understandable if the process of LASIK surgery makes you feel uncomfortable. No one likes to think about a laser touching their eye. You might find it reassuring to know that LASIK is proven to be a safe procedure and very few people have any long-term side effects.

What happens after LASIK eye surgery?

After your LASIK eye surgery your eyes might itch or burn, or it might feel like there’s something in them. Don’t worry, this discomfort is normal. It’s also normal to have blurry or hazy vision, see glare, starbursts or haloes around lights and to be sensitive to light.

Since dry eyes are a common side effect of LASIK surgery, your ophthalmologist might give you some eye drops to take home. You might also be sent home with antibiotics and steroidal eye drops. Additionally, your ophthalmologist might also have you wear a shield over your eyes to stop you from touching your healing corneas, especially while you’re asleep.

You’ll return to your ophthalmologist one day after your surgery to get your vision tested and make sure that your eye is healing.

What are the advantages of LASIK eye surgery?

Around 90% of people who go through LASIK eye surgery have vision between 20/20 and 20/40 (without glasses or contact lenses). 20/20 vision is normal, healthy vision — not “perfect” vision. Studies have shown that an average of 95% of individuals who have had LASIK eye surgery are satisfied with the results.

What are the risks or potential complications of LASIK eye surgery?

All surgeries come with risks. It’s highly likely that you’ll experience side effects after LASIK eye surgery, but they usually only last about a month. For some people it might be a shorter period of time, and for others it might be longer. Possible side effects include:

• Dry eyes.
• Vision that is blurry, hazy or foggy.
• Vision that changes throughout the day.
• Eye discomfort or pain.
• Glare, halos or starbursts around lights.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Tiny red or pink patches of blood on the whites of your eyes.
• Infection.
• Vision that is worse than it was before the procedure (this is rare).
• Blindness (this is extremely rare).

Sometimes these side effects become permanent. Keep that in mind when you consider this corrective surgery.

What’s the recovery time?

Recovery time from LASIK eye surgery is quick. You might be able to return to most of your normal activities as early as one day after the procedure. It might take longer for your eyes to heal if you’ve had a photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). This is because the cornea cells have to grow back.

Will I have to limit my activity?

Yes, you should limit your activity following your LASIK procedure until your eye heals. Your ophthalmologist might recommend the following lifestyle changes, including:  

• Don’t wear eye makeup for two weeks.
• Avoid playing non-contact sports for three days and contact sports for four weeks.
• Wear your eye shield at night for at least four weeks.
• No swimming, or using a whirlpool or hot tub for at least four weeks.

Do I qualify for LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK is a great option if you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts. However, not everyone is allowed to have the procedure. Your ophthalmologist will have to determine if you’re a good candidate. Reasons why you might qualify include:

• You’re 18 years old or older. Your ophthalmologist might prefer you to be 21 or older.
• Your eyes are generally healthy, especially your corneas which need to be thick with no scratches.
• Your eye prescription hasn’t changed in the past year.

Reasons why you might not qualify include:

• The refractive error in your eye is unstable or changing.
• Your astigmatism, myopia or hyperopia is extreme.
• You have a history of eye infections.
• You have severe dry eye.
• You have advanced glaucoma.
• You’re pregnant or nursing.
• You have a cataract.
• You have uncontrolled diabetes.
• You have an uncontrolled systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease.
• You have keratoconus, which is where your cornea is shaped like a cone.

How much does LASIK eye surgery cost?

The cost of LASIK depends on a number of factors including what type of laser is used, where you’re located, what your ophthalmologist charges, etc. However, on average, the cost per eye is usually between $1500-2500.