LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery:
A Complete Consumer Guide

Are You a Candidate for LASIK?
Take our two-minute online LASIK evaluation to generate a custom report on whether you are a LASIK eye surgery candidate.

Surgeon Debate: Blade Vs. Bladeless LASIK
In LASIK surgery, a device is used to cut a flap in the cornea. Should that device be a microkeratome blade or a flap-cutting laser? Two prominent, experienced LASIK surgeons give us their opinions on this much-debated topic.

LASIK Surgeon Q&A

Click Here to Learn About Local LASIK Surgeons:

Read recent answers from our LASIK surgeon panel, then see our archives of Q&A About LASIK and Other Vision Correction Surgery.

What You Should Know About LASIK:

How LASIK Works: The nitty gritty of LASIK surgery.
LASIK Criteria for Success: How to know if LASIK or PRK is for you.
LASIK Surgery Risks and Complications — and how to avoid them.
LASIK Eye Surgery Results: Are you likely to see 20/20 after LASIK?
Which Laser Is Best? Read a review of all current LASIK lasers.
What Does LASIK Surgery Cost? Average LASIK prices are rising.
LASIK Financing: Learn how you can afford LASIK surgery.
How To Choose a Surgeon — including tough questions to ask.
Contact Lenses After LASIK: Why some people need them.

Types of LASIK and Other Laser Eye Surgery:

PRK: Some surgeons still prefer PRK, the original laser eye surgery.
Custom Wavefront LASIK: What makes it "custom" LASIK?
Epi-LASIK avoids using alcohol to remove the cornea's outer layer.
LASEK is a no-flap procedure used mostly for thin corneas.
IntraLase "Bladeless" LASIK uses a second laser, not a blade.
Presby LASIK is a possible laser eye surgery for presbyopes.
Corneal Onlays/Inlays blend with your eye's surface.

SPONSORED SECTION: The iLASIK Procedure
Learn about this advanced laser vision correction procedure for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Alternatives to Laser Eye Procedures:

CK for Hyperopia uses radio-frequency energy for corneal shaping.
Implantable Lenses (phakic IOLs) avoid removing corneal tissue.
Refractive Lens Exchange replaces your eye's natural lens.

Eye Surgery for Presbyopia
Want to toss your reading glasses or bifocals? Find out what you can do right now, as well as what currently investigational procedures might be available in the future.
 

Departments
LASIK & PRK FAQ / LASIK Quiz / Refractive Surgery News / Surgeon Directory

About LASIK
LASIK is a surgical procedure that uses a laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. In LASIK, a thin flap in the cornea is created using either a microkeratome blade or a femtosecond laser. The surgeon folds back the flap, then removes some corneal tissue underneath using an excimer laser. The flap is then laid back in place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed.

[Page updated April 2008]

LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery - Home Basics of Vision Correction Surgery   LASIK: Are You a Good Candidate for LASIK? LASIK Surgeon Q&As Blade vs. Bladeless LASIK: Surgeons Debate Custom Wavefront LASIK Financing for LASIK IntraLase LASIK LASIK Complications LASIK Cost LASIK Criteria for Success LASIK Lasers LASIK Results LASIK Surgeon: How to Choose LASIK Quiz Presby LASIK When LASIK Goes Wrong

Other Refractive Surgery: CK for Hyperopia CK & Other Surgery for Presbyopia Corneal Inlays and Corneal Onlays Epi-LASIK Implantable Lenses (Phakic IOLs) LASEK PRK Refractive Lens Exchange (Clear Lens Extraction)   Other Eye Surgery: Cornea Transplant Intacs for Keratoconus   More: Eye Doctor Q&A LASIK & PRK FAQs News on Refractive Eye Surgery What's Better for You: 30-Day Contacts or LASIK? NEW! When Contact Lenses Are Needed After Surgery