LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. The LASIK procedure is a precise and controlled removal of corneal tissue by a special laser that reshapes the cornea in order to change its focusing power. To be considered for this surgery, a technician must first scan your eyes in order to create a detailed map. By doing this, he or she will be able to adjust the laser to your exact requirements in order to determine whether or not the surgery is possible.
Once the laser is programmed, the technician will place anesthetic drops into the eyes to numb them and keep them pain free. Next, a device called a lid speculum will be put in place in order to keep the eyelids open for the duration of the procedure. After that, the surgeon will use an automated microsurgical instrument called microkeratome, to cut a flap in the cornea that is about the thickness of 1/4 of the cornea’s depth. The laser will then be used to reshape the cornea.
The laser used in the LASIK procedure is called the Eximer Laser. The laser pulses a tightly focused beam of light onto the surface of the eye. When the light comes into contact with the cornea, it vaporizes a minute portion of it. By controlling the size, position and number of pulses, the doctor can control how much of the cornea is actually removed. When the removal is complete, the flap of the cornea is replaced, and quickly conforms to the new corneal shape. The flap will heal and bond over the next few days.